Jeff Golden - Getty Images
It is very likely that Andre Ethier will be the highest paid Dodger in 2012.
The Dodgers entered the offseason with seven players eligible for salary arbitration. These players, with between three and six years of MLB service time, has been whittled down to three through a series of transactions. The Dodgers locked up Matt Kemp for eight years and $160 million back in November, traded Dana Eveland to the Baltimore Orioles for a pair of minor leaguers, signed Tony Gwynn Jr. to a two-year, $2 million contract, and did not tender a contract to Hong-Chih Kuo.
That leaves three Dodgers eligible for salary arbitration: Andre Ethier, James Loney, and Clayton Kershaw.
On Wednesday, January 18, salary figures will be exchanged, assuming both sides haven't worked out a deal by then. If the Dodgers and the player in question can't agree on a contract, both sides will submit one salary figure and prepare for an arbitration hearing that will be scheduled at some point between February 1-21. The two sides can continue to negotiate up to the hearing itself, and that is often what happens.
The Dodgers haven't gone to a hearing with any of their arbitration-eligible players since 2007 with Joe Beimel. In a hearing, both sides argue their case for their salary figure to a three-person panel, and the panel will ultimately decide one side or the other. Ethier and the Dodgers had a arbitration hearing scheduled in February 2009, but the two sides worked out a contract just minutes before the scheduled hearing was to begin.
For the most part, the arbitration system is all about trying to find comparable players, either via service time, position, or performance. We begin our look at the 2012 arbitration-eligible Dodgers with Ethier, who has one year before being eligible for free agency.
Ethier has five years, 153 days of service time. This is actually his fourth time being eligible for salary arbitration, as he was a "Super Two" after 2008, meaning he was in the top 17% in service time of players who had at least two years but not quite three years of service time. Ethier made $9.25 million last year in the second season of a two-year, $15.25 million contract signed before the 2010 season.
In many ways, Ethier had a disappointing year in 2011. He wasn't necessarily bad, as he hit .292/.368/.421, a 120 OPS+. But his power was gone as he hit just 11 home runs, though he did hit 30 doubles, a mark he has reached for five consecutive seasons. Ethier was limited to just 135 games as he had his season cut short by a knee injury that ultimately required surgery in September.
Some of the players comparable to Ethier are a tough sell, as they all signed long-term contracts between two and four years before the comparable point in their careers:
| Player | Thru | Svc Time | G | PA | 2B | HR | Runs | RBI | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS | OPS+ | bWAR | fWAR | Salaryn-1 | Salaryn | % Inc. |
| Andre Ethier | 2011 | 5.153 | 854 | 3363 | 195 | 109 | 420 | 446 | .291/.364/.479 | .843 | 123 | 11.8 | 15.8 | $9,250 | ??? | ??? |
| Curtis Granderson | 2010 | 5.077 | 810 | 3424 | 142 | 126 | 511 | 366 | .268/.341/.481 | .822 | 113 | 21.9 | 23.7 | $5,500 | $8,250 | 50.0% |
| Nick Markakis | 2010 | 5.000 | 786 | 3369 | 206 | 89 | 448 | 422 | .298/.368/.463 | .831 | 119 | 17.8 | 17.9 | $6,750 | $10,250 | 51.9% |
| David DeJesus | 2009 | 5.146 | 785 | 3405 | 164 | 56 | 455 | 353 | .286/.358/.425 | .782 | 106 | 18.7 | 14.2 | $3,600 | $4,700 | 30.6% |
| Brad Hawpe | 2009 | 5.058 | 728 | 2807 | 145 | 111 | 348 | 427 | .283/.377/.498 | .875 | 118 | 2.6 | 4.9 | $5,500 | $7,500 | 36.4% |
| Nick Swisher | 2009 | 5.031 | 761 | 3119 | 152 | 133 | 437 | 406 | .245/.357/.460 | .818 | 114 | 11.5 | 14.3 | $5,300 | $6,750 | 27.4% |
| Jason Bay | 2008 | 5.080 | 771 | 3259 | 164 | 149 | 476 | 491 | .282/.375/.516 | .891 | 131 | 12.6 | 17.0 | $5,750 | $7,500 | 30.4% |
Ethier's career numbers compare favorably to all six of these players, though it is difficult to compare apples to apples as these players all signed long-term extensions all with some sort of risk discount built in. But we can look at the percentage increase in salary between year five and year six to give us at least a loose baseline of comparison. Just to note, a 27.4% raise on Ethier's $9.25 million is roughly $11.78 million while a 51.9% raise would be about $14.05 million.
Ideally, we should find some players at or near Ethier's service time who actually went year-to-year. I'm using percentage increase from year to year for Ethier because he was a Super Two in 2009, which started his larger paydays earlier than some of his contemporaries, and bumped the salaries his subsequent years of arbitration eligibility, relative to his peers with slightly less service time.
Here are three relatively comparable outfielders who were eligible for arbitration last year:
| Player | Thru | Svc Time | G | PA | 2B | HR | Runs | RBI | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS | OPS+ | bWAR | fWAR | Salaryn-1 | Salaryn | % Inc. |
| Andre Ethier | 2011 | 5.153 | 854 | 3363 | 195 | 109 | 420 | 446 | .291/.364/.479 | .843 | 123 | 11.8 | 15.8 | $9,250 | ??? | ??? |
| Ryan Ludwick | 2010 | 5.109 | 651 | 2411 | 125 | 104 | 310 | 375 | .266/.337/.476 | .813 | 114 | 9.2 | 13.1 | $5,450 | $6,775 | 24.3% |
| Josh Willingham | 2010 | 5123 | 663 | 2602 | 130 | 103 | 320 | 336 | .265/.367/.475 | .841 | 121 | 11.3 | 12.8 | $4,600 | $6,000 | 30.4% |
| Cody Ross | 2010 | 5.058 | 636 | 2222 | 127 | 86 | 274 | 319 | .265/.323/.466 | .788 | 105 | 8.5 | 10.2 | $4,450 | $6,300 | 41.6% |
Ethier blows them all away in bulk stats, with more than a full season more of playing time than the trio. Perhaps a look at their respective launch seasons (the season immediately preceding arbitration eligibility) would give us a better look.
| Player | Year | Svc Time | G | PA | 2B | HR | Runs | RBI | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS | OPS+ | bWAR | fWAR |
| Andre Ethier | 2011 | 5.153 | 135 | 551 | 30 | 11 | 67 | 62 | .292/.368/.421 | .789 | 120 | 1.3 | 2.9 |
| Ryan Ludwick | 2010 | 5.109 | 136 | 551 | 27 | 17 | 63 | 69 | .251/.325/.418 | .743 | 104 | 0.9 | 2.0 |
| Josh Willingham |
2010 | 5123 | 114 | 450 | 19 | 16 | 54 | 56 | .268/.389/.459 | .848 | 129 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| Cody Ross | 2010 | 5.058 | 153 | 569 | 28 | 14 | 71 | 65 | .269/.322/.413 | .735 | 95 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
Again, Ethier compares favorably in his launch year, even with the missed time and suppressed power. Willingham may have had a better launch year, but Ethier played 22% more often. Looking at the raises for these three and applying them to Ethier, a 24.6% raise would mean $11.5 million and a 41.6% raise would mean about $13.1 million.
Looking at these comps, I think Ethier's floor in arbitration is $12 million. Factor in the two straight All-Star appearances and a shiny new Gold Glove on his mantel, and Ethier probably gets more than that. My guess for Ethier's salary in 2012 is $13 million. What's your guess?
0 recs | 1091 comments
I find it kind of amazing that Kershaw hasn’t been locked up yet.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
If I had it my way, Kemp would have gotten a similar deal to Markakis 2 years ago, Billingsley would have gotten a 5 year extension after 2009, Martin would have gotten a 6 year deal for around 65-75 million (oops) and Kershaw would have gotten a monster extension after 2010, instead of a gozilla sized extension he will get whenever he gets it now.
Overall we’d have Martin still and way overpaid, though still productive for a catcher, Kemp way under market value, Billingsley around the same, maybe a bit cheaper, and Kershaw waaaayyyy cheaper. That is, of course, if they were all willing to play ball.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
My guess is 2 year deal. 30/2. Paid as 12/18.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
more i think about it, he has 1 year deal with club option written all over him
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Why would Ethier do that? He’ll be at the top end of the free agency class next year.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Right
Also, Ethier will be the perfect candidate for the new FA rules. Dodgers can offer Ethier the one-year qualifying offer at the average of the top 125 salaries (people have estimated this at $12.5 to $13 million or so). Probably no chance he accepts but if he does, hey great we get Ethier back on a one-year deal.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Ethier is either signing a deal with the Dodgers for one year or for five or more years. There is no reason for him to sign for two years, for the reason that Mike mentioned.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
seems right to me
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
There’s no reason to give that guy 5+ years, so I guess you’re right about us finding out first hand how the new free agency compensation rules work
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Also seems right to me
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
just flashed on something
Ethier reminds me more of Paul O’Neil than any other player
I refuse to look up the comparison
but I now feel strongly that Andre probably needs to play for the Yankees in the twilight of his career
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I’m fairly certain the second thing out of Joe Torre’s mouth when he was offered the Dodgers’ managerial job, after “yes,” was “Andre Ethier reminds me a lot of Paul O’Neill.”
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
thanks to Eric and the rest of you for making me feel less than special
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Haha. We’re all Tebows
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I wrote something really ugly
proud of myself right now
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Did you see Jack Johnson did a Tebow celebration after his goal last night?
Nolij - January 10, 2012
I saw the Kings scored a month’s worth of goals last night.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
my buddy was at the game, he said the place went crazy
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I was asleep in a NyQuill-induced stupor, but I saw Josie was all over it.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I believe Joe Torre
Made the same comparison
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Torre was not the first
many have since the day he arrived
1. Fiery personality
2. Hard on himself
3. Left handed white boy
4. Good Power
5. Bit of a late bloomer
6. Plate discipline
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
I have never thought of Ethier as a white boy.
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
His mother is Latina and I believe his dad is part Native American.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
his Dad
Is of French Canadian and Cherokee descent
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
If he is, then we’d be best suited to sign him to five year deal right now
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
I think
1Y/$13M is correct.
Will the Dodgers buy out any of his free agency years is what I want to know.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I'll take the wacky guess
Dodgers go to arbitration with Ethier and lose. Ethier ends up making $14MM
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Its a shame
All the drama aside, he’s worth $14M, IMO. I expect him to bounce back big this year, assuming 100% health starting the season, which will only serve to bolster his cause for a larger chunk of change moving forward.
If he ends up a D-Back and starts mashing everytime he faces us, so help me…
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
I don’t think Ethier has the speed to play D-back, maybe outside linebacker, but D-back, no way
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
what's weird
Is that was my first thought. lol
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
They should go to a hearing with Ethier just for the fact that he needs to feel victimized to get motivated.
Tim Crews' Dastardly Mustache - January 10, 2012
if that's all it takes
they can just make him play for Sandusky for the same victimized effect
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Heh
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
We need Kim NG back stat.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
So I played my first baseball game in a month on Sunday
and here it is tuesday and my body still feels like it was in a car accident
age sucks
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
was it the baseball game or the sausage fest?
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
Good point
Baseball + case of wine + copious amounts of pork = sore postgame
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
you guys
obviously don’t know the foundations of a good training table
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Same thing?
David Young - January 10, 2012
Andre goes to arbitration
Wins
Andre is traded on July 23rd to the Cardinals for Zach Cox, as the Cardinals suffer injuries to Berkman, Beltran, Holiday, and Craig.
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
Eerily possible
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Sounds like, Joe hasn’t been the only one hitting the booze of late.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
original answer – like it
Dodgers fans excited about the prospect of Cox, but he disappoints the Dodger brass with attitude and performance issues
Cox is traded away for a defense first catcher
HJ lauds the trade as a smart use of resources two years laters when Cox flops out of baseball
Ethier decides baseball isn’t for him but likes the Cardinal uniform, makes the Arizona Cardinals as a special teams player and 3rd string linebacker
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Nice HJ
VeroJoe - January 10, 2012
Best part of this
Dodgers open a four-game series in St. Louis on July 23. Oh the drama.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
ok
Everyone who’s a Dodger, get on the plane……….not so fast Andre
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
I am a fan of clubhouse-to-clubhouse trades
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Saves on moving costs
For the team that is, they don’t have to ship his locker and crap anywhere, they just give it to the equipment manager of the other team and say “here ya go, you deal with this now!”
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Either that or they do one of those mid series switcheroos
“So Endre, how do you feel about the color red? Oh and by the way, your locker is now across the stadium…as in you are now a Cardinal…as in, get the F outta here!
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
despite his lower power numbers
I’ve liked Zach Cox since that draft and would like to see if he develops more power in the future.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Pretty tables
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
Because of simple ego, is it even remotely possible for Andre to sign a long term deal with the Dodgers making substantially less then Matt Kemp?
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
Sure. It’s not like Ethier will touch anywhere close to 8/$160 in free agency.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Yes, but wouldn’t it be easier for him if he feels he’s as good as Matt Kemp (which I think he does) to play for someone else and make 15 Million per year then for the Dodgers getting 10 Million less then Matt per year?
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
I don’t think so, no
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
We need to ask someone with an ego, is Gary available?
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
golf shot
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Ego isn’t there today, man.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Look in the mirror and smile
it bounces back like a rubber ball if you let it
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
That works for guys like Gary and you, for the rest of us the ball hits us in the mouth and breaks a tooth.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
it works for everyone if you let it
Kenny Chesney
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
You know what’s cool, being able to look over the shoulder of your boss’s admin and watching her delete you from the org chart.
God, I hope they leave me off this time.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
You still looking for a new job?
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Yes and no.
They extended me out a month and are threatening to do it again. I don’t want to work here, I’m now physically angry everytime i pull into the parking lot, but it pays the bills. I have a very exciting job lined up that starts out unpaid, so I can’t take it unless I can collect unemployment, and I can’t collect unemployment if I quit or get fired here. So, yes and no.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
That is a quandry
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Check your mail
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
you check YOUR mail
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
threatening?
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
extending you for 1 month on an ‘at will’ basis, meaning they can fire you without cause at any time, is a really shitty situation. At least if they extend you a year at will, you work with the assumption that they expect to need you for the whole year.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Better just to use it as paid time to try to find a new job. It’s too bad that your dream job doesn’t pay at all “to begin with”, but maybe you can find a paying job before the current one ends.
berkowit28 - January 10, 2012
that’s what i’ve been doing. Had a lot of leads, but most of my contacts are in the defense industry and they just cut the defense budget by like $650billion over 10 years and we are all at prime contractors.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
it’ll work out. If it doesn’t, I’m going to go take the GMAT, find an online MBA program and live off loans until the economy rebounds or I can start my own business.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Damn that's a shitty situation
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
FTFY
You know what’s cool, being able to look over the shoulder of your boss’s admin and
watching her delete you from the org chartinnocently and accidently peeking down her top.God, I hope
they leave me offI see some nipple this time.Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
She’s old an dumb. I don’t care if she looked like Jessica Biel, being dumb makes you invisible to me.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
invisible or uninteresting?
I never slept with a dumb girl more than twice
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
invisible as far as attraction goes. Plus, she’s like 53 with 3 kids. And dumb.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
someone doesn’t like cougars
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Someone’s wife doesn’t read TBLA.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
jessica simpson would be upset with you if she knew why
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Was never a Jessica Simpson fan. Or Paris Hilton for that matter.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
those two should not be compared
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
this
Even if talking about intelligence, Paris has the brain levels of a goldfish, Jessica doesn’t do insanely stupid things every year, haha.
When it comes to looks, no comparison!
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
She doesn't do that much for me either man
nolander - January 10, 2012
The ego is justifed...
Try standing in the box, down 0-2, wondering if he’s going to throw the heat or the slider, then resigning yourself to just going down swinging mid-flight because there’s no chance in hell I’m getting on-base.
ishXdavid - January 10, 2012
If you bunt on him, he’ll hit you, so that is two times in a row you can get on base.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
sweet
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
You wouldn’t want an HBP with my HMO insurance.
ishXdavid - January 10, 2012
Hell, I wouldn’t want a HBP at all with Mr. Scott throwing.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I’d throw him out on the bunt anyway
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
oh don't do that
he’s insufferable when you do that
Maddz - January 10, 2012
I shoot to wound.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
So what do we feel would be a reasonable deal
5 years / $65M?
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
5/75
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
If the power comes back and he has something like .280/.360./480
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
Do you think he can/will slug >.500 this year?
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Phil does
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
his best three SLG years were .510, .508, .493. So he can get to .500, but for him to do so, he’d have to have a career year after the one he just had.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Sure he can.
Just for fun I looked at the neutralized batting on Baseball-Reference. If we put every year of Ethier’s career in the same offensive environment of 2011 playing his home games at Dodger Stadium, here would have been his annual slugging percentages:
.439
.416
.492
.495
.488
.420 (I am trying to figure out how putting Ethier in his same environment netted a slugging percentage one point worse than his actual number; maybe a rounding error)
I’m all for thinking a healthy Ethier can slug .500 though.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
So, to sum up...
Endre and his agent (who is it?) will leak to the media they are looking for 7/105, which is way to high, the common perception might value him at somewhere between $13 and $15M per year depending on the length of the agreement, and if Ned is still making deals he’ll say he tried his best at 5/55.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
I thought it was a foregone conclusion that Ethier will be a Red Sock
BFDC - January 10, 2012
What, cause of the Pedroia love fest?
Or was there something else.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
The fact they don’t have a right fielder
The fact Andre is built for Fenway
The fact they have money to spend on Andre
The fact they will finish 3rd in 2012
meercatjohn - January 10, 2012
Haha
From @TheFakeESPN:
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
LOL
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Why can’t they just put their backs to it and march across it backwards?
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
genius
that is is true genius
easy easy rec
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
catching up
greened it
MammothDodger - January 10, 2012
Andre Ethier is offered four years at twenty mill a piece and he takes it, saying, “I’m pretty sure I can feed my kids on that”
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
I am prepared to enjoy the type of season Ethier has to have in 2012 to receive such an offer.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
It’s gonna be gangbusters. 30 HRs, hitting .304 on the year. Everyone’s gonna be like woah
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
And the cynic in me says...
Its a catch 22. You sign him after that kind of season and he will invariably get hurt, underperform, become whiny and emo, and/or all of the above. But you don’t sign him and then he goes off to Boston, or worse an NL West team and starts to kill it.
So frustrating.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
That isn’t gonna flood Nez Balelo’s inbox with offers of $20 million per year.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
can we use "flooding the inbox"
as a phrase?
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I don’t see why not
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Along with “rolling up the windows” and “dialling a number.”
kinbote - January 10, 2012
So no more Jayson Werth deals?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Jayson Werth didn’t get $20 million per year
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
he is the last four years of his contract
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
ok
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
it’s all just monopoly money anyway, none of this is real
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Werth could field couldn't he?
Then again Ethier is a gold glover now, lol.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
That would be false
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Werth has a cannon and some serious range. Phillies had him playing some CF. He’s got the tools to be an elite corner defender. Was he not that good defensively when he came up with the Dodgers?
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I’m saying that ivdown is wrong, that Werth was an excellent defensive outfielder.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
He’s right then. He said Werth could field.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
You're agreeing with me yet telling me i'm wrong, lol
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
lol, lol
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
ha ha, got the could and couldn’t mixed up.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Every time I see/hear the word "gangbuster"
I think of this guy.
TomasC - January 10, 2012
I thought that was Cpt Crime-Stomper
Gangbuster has a cape, right?
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
I think of Dave Chappelle every time i hear it, lol
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
He will finish the 2010 that he started off with
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
LOL
Ahhh yes, the “feed my family” argument, its right up there with sports stars talking about “times being tough” and “doing whats best for my family” and “we all have to make sacrifices”
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
He settles
One year $13m.
With the Dodgers barely in contention and Sands ready to step in, he’s traded at the deadline for a young cost-controlled infielder.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Its not a democracy, its aTheocracy
Ethier and Dee for Starlin Castro
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
You miss the news on Castro?
Michael White - January 10, 2012
might have missed that
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Hide your wives.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
You trying to round up all the alleged sexual abusers into Los Angeles?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Maybe we can get Josh Lueke and Brett Myers too and hopefully they kill each other.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
hahahaha
Maddz - January 10, 2012
fuck that
I’d rather stick with Gordon and trade Ethier for someone else.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Andre loses arbitration
Andre hits 19 home runs by the all-star game, makes his 3rd straight appearance, and leading his team to a surprising five game lead. Word gets leaked from Dodger President Joe Torre’s office that the Dodgers have offered Andre a 5/75 extension but that he has turned it down.
During the All-Star game, Andre is hit on the wrist by a Josh Walden fastball, shattering it making the Werth wrist injury look like childs play.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Phil
Meercat hacked your account again
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
The Dodgers have a 5 game lead at the ASB! That’s optimistic and manageable even after losing Ethier for the year.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Especially with Rubby back a few weeks after the break. Ends up starting Game 3 of the NLCS
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
because the NLDS is a guaranteed sweep everytime we play.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
poor NL Central
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
to think the Dodgers may have single-handedly kept the Cardinals from winning 3 of the last 6 championships.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Going to be weird when Kershaw / Billingsley / Rubby / Eovaldi outpitch Halladay / Lee / Hamels / Halladay on short rest.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
especially when Kershaw starts game 1 of the WS and the Yankees have to start Freddy Garcia.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
As I’ve been playing out this scenario in my head, once the Dodgers lose Etheir for the year, they pull out all the stops to make a trade to replace Etheir and maintain the lead. Eovaldi and Withrow had a good run.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
We will love Felipe Paulino:)
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Is Torii Hunter in the last year of his deal finally? He might more or less fit that theoretical bill.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Except the Angels will need him to meet us in the FreeWay Series
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I was going to ask
Josie some questions about Giuseppe Rossi but decided it was too far away from the EC to care
A fan, but not that big of a fan, evidently
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
he’s a son of a bitch and a bastard. D-man can back me up
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
um, still angry I guess
I was inquiring about his health
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I have a friend surnamed Rossi. Hmmm
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
She is bent out of shape
because he was born in New Jersey, but chose to play international for Italy
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
you grow up in Jersey and then you go join up to play for another country? Where’s your pride? Anyhow, last I heard he was rehabbing on schedule, that was back in December.
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
you go play for the country of your parents, where you have spent a good part of your formative life, that has a much better and well developed program for the thing that you love to do. Why wouldn’t you?
The Italian national team is as high an honor as there is in soccer – right? I mean its not Brazil, but it it storied
If I moved to Italy and had a son with dual citizenship who played baseball, why wouldn’t my son go to the USA to play?
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
oh no, logically it was the right move, but there has to be a point in US soccer history where that;s not the case, and I hope it’s comin soon.
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
I’ve been told for the last 40 years that is right around the corner.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
but, but, but
He was the one that was supposed to be the start…or some shit like that
Before he was hurt, he was playing at a very high level, dude is talented
and comely
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
it’s happening now with a bunch of German-American Army Brats. It’s a matter of if you think you can break in on a talent stuffed Euro squad
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
I’d ask you what you are talking about, but you’d reply.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Born to American Soldier on Army Base in Germany, holds dual citizenship, choses to play on US Nat’l team.
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Because he’s a true American or because he couldn’t make the German squad?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
most likely cause he’d be low on the depth chart on the German squad.
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
what if he dad was German and his mom a knocked up service woman
huh smarty? What now?
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I never implied gender, you did. Like the doctor joke!
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Stewart Scott
Don’t hate the playa, hate the game
or some nonsense like that
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I think there are a select few
That can hate both the playa AND the game. I defer to delias man on this.
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Pimping is actually quite easy.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
I know it’s the opposite of Rossi’s situation, but if I had been good enough to play for the national teams of any of my ancestral homelands, even though most of those countries were systematically trying to wipe out my people, I’d be eating goulash like nobody’s business.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Really Josie??? You get the Snookie’s of the world or you get the Elisabetta Canalis’s.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
that too
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
heh
I’ll never forget watching the 2008 EC France/Italy tilt in a AC Roma cafe in North Beach, wearing my France shirt. I worked in the French bakery across the street, it became a thing between me and the Italian regulars
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
If the Padres are going to trade Mat Latos they should trade us Chase Headley.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
seems fair.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I will call him Chase Heady
And expect to be corrected every time :)
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
If he played for us
I’d call him “Head Cheese”
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Just watched that movie last night
because my girlfriend had never seen it. I figured since Ive seen it about 8,000 times, its about time she worked on catching up.
EMDarrow - January 10, 2012
That’s good boyfriending
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Did she look at you disappointingly at “it’s twue! it’s twue!”?
David Young - January 10, 2012
The tiny little ball of optimism that resembled a speck of dust is now gathering momentum and has picked up enough lint to now be classified as a golf ball.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I thought Prince made tennis balls
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
DODGERS BRACE FOR FIELDER
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
MATTINGLY KEEPING MOUTH CLOSED
kinbote - January 10, 2012
THAT’S WHAT FINGERS ARE FOR WRITES NOLANDER
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
LOL
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
You might want to consult a doctor.
Just in case. :)
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Optimism has reached a post summer 2010 high
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Bud Selig lies about retirement again, receives a new contract extension.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
every time he’s ready to retire, some legacy threatening thing pops up. First it was the labor dispute in 2001, then it was contraction, then it was steroids, now it’s the Dodgers and instant replay. I’m a Bud Selig fan, so I’m glad he’s staying and hope he fixes this mess.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Which mess? the one he created or something else?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
meet
The Mets
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Tread lightly. Phil likes Lucas Duda.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Nah, just thought he had a good rookie year that went unappreciated, much like Moreland in 2010. He may never be that good again. The Mets are a mess.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
the ability to fix your own messes is a skill that not all possess
the ability to avoid making messes is a skill that no one possesses
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Well said
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I meant the Dodgers sale.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Bud Selig can go fuck himself and the horse he rode in on.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
rec
MammothDodger - January 10, 2012
depravity poll
if there was video of this, would you watch
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
“So we decide to go see the horse show…but then it’s like there’s a woman f^&*ing a horse. I started to feel bad for the horse”
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Kinky Kelly and the Sexy Stud?
…that title sounds vastly more disturbing given a certain community member.
EMDarrow - January 10, 2012
damn, every response is probably offensive
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Not only for giving us Frank but for giving us Frank and taking away Vlady
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I am an equal opportunity self-fuck assigner. Don Fehr can also fuck himself and the carton of sour milk he always has with him.
You cancel a World Series, you should jump in front of traffic.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Depravity Poll part deux
If there was video of Selig and Fehr playing live Frogger, only to have both get wiped out, do you watch it?
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Of course
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
but not him having sex with a horse?
Another example how americans are more cool with violence than sex
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I never said I wouldn’t watch Bud’s Equine Delight
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Well because...
Later when it’s “business time” with the wife, I don’t want to have any flashes of 80 year old men copulating with horses invading my mind, that’s Champs place. But when its “Time for Business” seeing images of a complete douchebag getting nailed by an oncoming semi will only serve to further pump me up for what I’m about to do
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
they don’t make First Person Shooters for sex
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I disagree
kinbote - January 10, 2012
My mind has wiped this event from my conscious
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
That’s how Keyser Selig gets you. The man walks with a limp until nobody is around, then the gait is perfect.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Nice
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I know the world series got cancelled, but I was too youngt to care. Bud Selig is okay in my book.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
And according to Ken Burns
The only ones who got screwed were the Montreal Expos and their fans, so … meh.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Just watched Anthony Bourdain in Montreal. Looks like a fun place to live.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
I can confirm. That was a fun show, no? (Last night’s was on SF – also fun.)
He has a real predilection for the raw underbelly of the places he visits, in more ways than one. You don’t get a complete or balanced picture of what’s on offer, but you sure do get to see places of character!
berkowit28 - January 10, 2012
I love Bourdain, so much.
Maddz - January 10, 2012
When he still cooked and was unknown, a good friend introduced me to Les Halles in NYC. I spent many a night there
he has skills
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
That was awesome
He was totally trashed in SF, too. I’ve never been that drunk in SF and I live here!
I love how he got a cheeseburger at 2am. He could have gone to more specialized places but at least gave some cool places a plug. And that DOlores Park taco truck is the bomb.
underdog - January 10, 2012
Don't
want to be in downtown SF after the BART closes and far from walking distance to where you live. Made that mistake once. Saw some wierd shit.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
MUNI runs pretty late, unless you’re trying to get to the East Bay
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Yeah, that was the problem. Took the BART in from the east bay to watch a professional tennis tournament downtown. Match went really really late. Exited and went to the BART station and it was gated up and closed. Didn’t have the cash needed for a taxi. Apparently, the illegal drug trade is pretty brisk at that time (2AM ish).
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Match was over at 01:30 AM?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Yes. Something like that. Over late enough that BART was closed when we walked outside. It was a tournament, there were a couple of matches, played one after the other. Stayed late to see Jonathan Stark (Stanford freshman at the time) play against Krickstein.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I wish his first name had been Tony
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
where do they play tennis in downtown SF?
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
indoor stadium. Don’t remember the name. I will google it.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Google
looks like it could’ve been the Civic Auditorium. From the looks of the picture online that looks like where the hords of homeless were camped out when we were walking around outside.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
And apparently Agassi won that tournament and it was Jonathan Stark I saw, but the other guy was Dan Goldie a former Stanford tennis dick (they all are) and Goldie won 6-4,5-7,6-2 and the match was pretty heated if I remember correctly. Stanford tennis players are world renown for being dicks. But very good tennis players.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Played Goldie and Eric Rosenfeld in doubles in a dual match in 1983
Schmucks beat us 7-5 in the third. And you’re right, Goldie was a dick, as was Scott Davis. Rosenfeld and Jim Grabb were ok, though. And the entire UCLA squad except for Mark Basham and John Davis were major douches.
The Dude Abides - January 11, 2012
oh yes, the homeless love Civic Center
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Stupid comment of the day
Pure Azure - January 10, 2012 via Android app
If you aren't careful
we could end up with a goodell, that would be turrible
nolander - January 10, 2012
I think I would rather have Bud than Goodell, Bettman, Stern or Tagliabue (the only major sports commissioners I’ve known).
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
“Commissioner of a major league sport” is the kind of job that is impossible to get people to like you. Seriously, could you imagine a day when a commissioner resigns and he is universally praised by fans? Just look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissioner_of_Baseball
Every commissioner has had to make tough decisions in shitty situations. The best a commissioner could hope for is not to be remembered at all.
court168627 - January 10, 2012
any leadership job means a significant number of folks won’t like you
If I respect my decisions, people can think whatever the fuck they want
I just made a decision and wrote an email, that a number of people are now going to think I am the worlds biggest dick, and I am, but it was the right decision made with a good intention, so I don’t care
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
exactly.
i disagree with a number of selig’s choices, but i understand why he made all of them. reading the comments on mbltr, you’d think the guy was satan. but i guess that’s to be expected…
court168627 - January 10, 2012
he may not be Satan but he’s headed for hell in a ballbasket
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I remember liking the previous three
Peter Ueberroth (1984-1989)
Bartlett Giamatti (1989)
Fay Vincent (1989-1992)
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
my point is
there are other people who hated each
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Not many hated Giamatti, except Pete Rose. And heart disease.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Thats only because he wasn’t alive long enough to do anything hugely stupid.
EMDarrow - January 10, 2012
And he sired one of this generation’s finest actors.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
The other one was good in Judging Amy too.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
who gives a fuck about what other people think:)
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
who gives a fuck about what other people think:)
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I remember liking Uberroth, but I didn’t know what collusion was. Then again, without collusion, maybe the Dodgers don’t sign Kirk Gibson.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
How could we, he was a Tiger until it was voided.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Yeah there was no need for that maybe in there.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I look forward to initiatives like “be nice to umpires” and “we could always find more ways to make a really long season irrelevant”
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
It establishes seeding. It just so happens that team success in baseball, much more than any other sport, is reliant on individuals being locked in at the right time. You could have a 120 game season followed by a 32 team single elimination tournament with all 7 game series and you’d still have the Royals knock out the top seed once in awhile.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Which is why I hate short series in baseball. The best team wins way less often in baseball than in any other major sport, and the long season is designed to fix that. Reducing that down to a one game playoff isn’t something I’m a fan of.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
the season removes all the “bad” teams. If you make the playoffs, you’re a good team, and good teams can play great. Your only other option would be to play a 101 game playoff series. Otherwise, enjoy the excitement of the playoffs and accept the idea that just because your team is “better” doesn’t mean it played better.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Right
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
If I didn’t love watching baseball I’d hate baseball.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Socrates is in the house!
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
t-shirt
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I guess I don’t know what problem we’re solving here. The wild card partially came from that season where the Giants won like 103 games and missed the playoffs. Now that was really funny, but all adding this second wild card does is make it so a team could do incredibly well and still miss the playoffs.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Please explain that last sentence. Thanks.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
A team could win 100 games and still miss the playoffs which is something the Wild Card was designed to prevent.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Finish the sentence
Therefore, a second wild card spot _
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Wild card 1 wins 100 games
Wild card 2 wins 86 games
Wild card 2 beats wild card 1 because it’s baseball and that will happen like 48% of the time.
Suck it, 100 game winner.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
I should say, I like the idea of a second wild card team, i hate the idea of a 1 game playoff. It should be either a 5 or 7 game series, but I like adding another team/round.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
hell, if you make it another 5 game series, that’s up to 5 more games the wild card team will have to play than a non-wild card team should they make the world series, making the regular season even more important
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Thus making the playoffs at least 5 days longer
and giving all of the other playoff teams too much time off between their last game of the regular season and the first game of the playoffs.
court168627 - January 10, 2012
I take it
Gary’s dream job is not being commissioner of MLB.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Contrary to popular belief, the commissioner’s job is not to design the game to correctly determine who the best team is every year. His job is to protect the owners and their best interests, and their best interests is financial in nature. I think to that end, he does done a great job.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
snap
correct
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
And unfortunately
I think MLB players are the only pro sports union to realize that the owners doing well is the best way to ensure job security for themselves and the future of the union.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Xeifrank thinks the most important thing is getting end of season tournaments correct….
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Well that is partially true. But I would replace that description with, Xeifrank thinks the most important thing is not having a shitty stupid way for determining a National Champion. Getting it 100% correct. Nice to shoot for that, but allowing for the possibility of a top ranked team to go undefeated and not have a shot to play for the title is shitty. #DeathToTheBCS
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I think you’re too hung up on the name “national champion.” They vote “national champions” for high school baseball too, but nobody gives a shit because it’s just a vote that doesn’t mean anything (and because it’s only high school baseball.)
That’s how the “national championship” was for 80 years in NCAA football too because like high school baseball there’s no practical way to determine best with all those teams competiting. National Champion is no more meaningful than somebody winning the Miss Universe pageant. It’s just an award that guys used to vote on, but they’ve tried to improve upon that.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
I don’t give any credence to a “National” champion of anything unless they won “some kind” of playoff. The highest level of High School (any sport) champion that I take serious is state or section champion, whatever the playoff goes up to. The whole national champion for High School is “just for funzies” as far as I am concerned and I don’t give it any weight.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
As you know, even high school state championship in football (in California) are crap.
I don’t personally view the NCAA national championship any differently, yet the BCS system was created to get closer to a true national champion than the prior system had and people lose their minds over it. I think the BCS is stupid too, but I don’t really give a shit. Especially since all the proposed fixes to the system would still have glaring holes in it.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
right, you’ll never get a perfect playoff system in almost any sport. But it is my (and many others) opinion that the current system is piss poor and could be improved upon by magnitudes. Magnitudes I’m saying!
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
correct
nolander - January 10, 2012
Two teams playing a rematch of both a conference and division game was a complete joke. Fuck it, blow it all up.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
rest is a helluva drug in baseball. for hitters it’s rough, for pitchers, missing a start or taking a couple days off is a GODSEND
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
it snows.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
yup.
i kind of hate november baseball.
court168627 - January 10, 2012
I think
two WC system as setup now is better than one WC system as setup before.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Juan Marichal
Disputes this
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Juan Marichal is just resting up for his comeback attempt.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Yeah, I’d be much more okay with this if it was an actual series instead of just one game.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
isn’t the Wild-Card game considered a playoff game?
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
its a sham of a mockery
nolander - January 10, 2012
The real issue is trying to attach a blanket solution to a variable problem. You could have every team play 81-81 or you could have 16 teams win 100 games and 16 teams lose 100 games. I think the biggest thing the extra wild card will do is take away some of the pennant race excitement.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I would rather have seen 7 games series in the division series
instead of a one game playoff
nolander - January 10, 2012
Wow, could you imagine
They’d be creating an August – October style NCAA BB tournament. You could call it Fall Madness, or whatever. And being the fans that we are, we’d still watch the regular season anyway, and then lose our minds when our under performing team started beating up on teams no one expected them to.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Even Tony Conigliaro could have seen that coming.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
x
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
man...
David Byrne got his ass kicked
court168627 - January 10, 2012
I was going with Fogerty lyrics
A black eyed handsome man….
Look at me
I can’t see
Centerfield
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
very nice
Jack Huber - January 10, 2012
It is a good gig, why give it up?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
damn
i guess “it counts” goes on for awhile longer
MammothDodger - January 10, 2012
Winter Development Videos
I added 4 videos to my winter development fanpost (http://www.truebluela.com/2012/1/9/2694748/2012-winter-development-program)
they are not the best quality but I figured I might as well post them
Brandon Lennox - January 10, 2012
nice man
thanks for the hard work
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Looking at Tony, is baseball the only team sport where someone flirts with serious mental injury on every pitch. The pitcher, the hitter, the fans, the base runner on 3rd. Tackles destroy legs all the time, and you get your concussions, but I’m not sure the danger of every single 95 MPH pitch, or velocity of a Pujols line drive can be matched.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
do you not watch James Harrison play Football?
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I’d say rugby, football and hockey are all more likely to lead to brain damage than baseball.
BFDC - January 10, 2012
Or result from.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Yeah, it’s “better” for you to get hit really hard once than it is to receive a bunch of punishment over time.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
It's a tough call
The (small) threat of paralysis is much more prevalent in football. Gotta be harrowing to try to catch a pass across the middle.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Ray Chapman wished he was Dennis Byrd.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
doubt it
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
yeah, that is why I went with mental.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
But the thought of that has to be gnawing at most players. And as Joe and others have mentioned, the brain damage suffered by countless linemen has to count for something.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Lots of football players dying, killing themselves, and being generally fucked up due to dain Bramage
Mike Webster ended up living under an underpass
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
And Darren Daulton talks to aliens
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Haha
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Also
Dykstra, Lenny
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Most Phillies are phucked up.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Spaceman Lee
fbihop - January 10, 2012
And also
“People killing, people dying
Children hurtin’, hear them crying”
That too.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
I’m glad somebody finally thought of the children.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
won't somebody please...
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
You’re making me reconsider my stance of pitching without a cup.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Pride / Ego / Gets in the way?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I’ve caught or got glove on every line drive hit back at me, and it’s uncomfortable. I’ll probably start wearing one as my reaction times start to slow.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
They may have already. Given that we’ve seen plenty of pitchers take one off the noggin from one they didn’t get glove one, the nads wouldn’t seem to be out of play.
David Young - January 10, 2012
i’m not playing against Brian Hunter though. I get your point though.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Boxers would say hello
if they could talk
mleadman - January 10, 2012
and then I notice
you said team sport
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Wow
Half cup of black coffee and a handful of Hershey’s kisses really improved my mood.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Talk to me in an hour
Let me know how you are doing then.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
It’s going to improve something else in about 30-60 minutes.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
That's the 2nd phase of the mood improvement
Or … Mood Improvement Phase Number 2
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
pooping makes everything better
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
the poop and pee release is all some people have.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
new all time low. Thought it couldn’t be done. #PoopPeeTalk
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
you call that a low bar?
I’ll show you a low bar
mleadman - January 10, 2012
everyone poops, Xei. Everybody poops
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Im not sure its even the low point in this thread
Given the (albeit brief) bestiality discussion.
EMDarrow - January 10, 2012
seriously glad I decided to log in at 3 AM
NotJoeTorre - January 11, 2012
Did the NBA change something to where the division winner didn’t automatically get a top 3 seed?
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Yes, also, in overtime
The team that gets the ball first wins if they make a basket
mleadman - January 10, 2012
but not a free throw
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
/high five!
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Team that loves Jesus the most, wins!
Nolij - January 10, 2012
1986 Mets
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
JESUS THAT WAS GOOD COCAINE!
Nolij - January 10, 2012
OH GOD, OH GOD, I’M GONNA DIE, OH GOD
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I haven’t seen a Christian player take this much flak since Bull Durham and Major League
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Honest question
Has a star player in recent memory been more didactic than Tebow? He is obviously not the only person of faith in sports, but he has fully embraced his missionary role. The only other one I can think of is Josh Hamilton, but his redemption story tempers the proselytization.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
sour grapes and good manners keeps my mouth shut
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
thanks :)
I kept mine shut this week, too ;)
I’m still waiting for the first Jewish star QB. Be less likely to be a missionary for faith than a messenger for the best deli, though.
underdog - January 10, 2012
Sid Luckman likes Langers
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
actually the list of Jewish football players is a little surprising
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jews_in_sports#Football_.28American.29
a few must be conversions, and some surprises — had no idea Taylor Mays was Jewish!
underdog - January 10, 2012
Why, surprising?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Just shows how diverse my people are
We’re not all Goldberg variations. ;)
And even though I know some African Americans who are Jewish, it still seems rare and surprising to me is all.
underdog - January 10, 2012
I just recently found out that Amar’e Stoudemire is one of the tribe.
court168627 - January 10, 2012
So did he.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Barry Bonds
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I think Warner attempted it quite often
But each star brings a different following. Faith based superstars only get a platform when what they do defy odds. Since what Tebow does defies so many “experts” and since he had incredible success at Florida, and built in a huge national following, his platform gets bigger and bigger.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Bob Tebow’s brand of Christianity is also a bit unusual, but no one ever talks about that.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
shhhh
doesn’t matter what you believe, call it christian and its all good for marketing purposes
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I take it you don't follow Blake Hawksworth on twitter.
I would say a majority of athletes in general are fairly religious and a majority of those religious athletes happen to be Christian. Clayton Kershaw is incredibly religious, which is reflected in the ministry (and missionary work) he and his wife are involved in oversees in Africa.
I think the issue is that Tebow has done some TV spots for Focus on the Family and stuff like that, and it got super publicized by the media and his followers.
/religion scholar
Maddz - January 10, 2012
though unintentional
“oversees” makes me giggle. oh, religion pun
Maddz - January 10, 2012
Seems the norm not the exception. Unless they are simply pointing to the cool clouds after every home run.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
it makes sense that athletes tend to be religious.
who else do they have to thank for their freakish talents?
court168627 - January 10, 2012
this counts
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Genetics?
BFDC - January 10, 2012
exactly.
and if you think you’re born into a certain family for a certain reason…
court168627 - January 10, 2012
I don’t see brilliant scientists thanking a religious order for their freakish talents.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
they tend to think a bit more
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Before we descend into the religion=dumb argument, I’d like to point out that though I am not religious, a number of my professors are and they are VERY FUCKING SMART. There are also people on this board who are very smart and religious, so be careful, please.
Maddz - January 10, 2012
you just don't want any fun
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
religious flamewars =/= fun, but it’s an interesting subject if we can keep from generalizations
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
/highfive
Maddz - January 10, 2012
I didn’t mean religion = dumb. I don’t think it is on its face. Consequences of belief can be “dumb” but that is something else
That said, I think scientist tend to question more and trained to attack untried assumptions and thus may have more of a varied and nuanced response/opinion to the source of their talents
on the other hand, they don’t have a camera in their face and annies – so maybe if they had those benefits too – they would be more vocal about gods gifts
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
also
The public finds throwing a ball more impressive than splitting the atom.
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Talking about G-d’s gifts and being religious are very different things. A ton of athletes have cross tattoos and drug habits and wanton sex. I have a ton of respect for the fact that, as far as I can tell, Tebow is sincere in his religiosity.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
I think his “golly gee wilikers” attitude also puts up peoples defenses.
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
I think people who have a problem with Tebow are insecure about their own atheism. I’m secure in my knowledge I’m nothing but an advanced amoeba but if someone else feels different, all the best.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I have no problem with Tebow
I hope he wins the Super Bowl. I just don’t expect him too.
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
I think we have gotten too hyper focused on the religion part of it
some people just didn’t/don’t think he is very good, or at least no where near good enough to deserve all the attention/praise he gets. Yes the religion angle is one reason why he gets a lot of the attention he does.
nolander - January 10, 2012
good comment
nice perspective
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
this is going to sound silly
but I wonder how much his name plays into it. It’s so easy to say Tebow, almost fun, and so it gets repeated ad nauseum. Think about the Honey Badger name for Mathieu, Musberger said it 7 times on the broadcast last night, always with emphasis.
You build reasons for your dislike, but I think much of it is people just tired of hearing his name. Like Bieber!
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
my Dad asked me
What Honey Badger’s real name was because they hardly said it
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
the bigger game, the more you are going to get
marketing
storyline
marketing
storyline
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
and there’s always an uncanny valley with marketing. Tebow is as hated as a Lexus commercial
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Musberger also spouted the phrase “Honey badger don’t care” 2x’s
So lame
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
he’s still the one you want on big occasions, but he’s showing his age
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
I’ve never been “I hate X announcer” guy.
I don’t care for some, and I like a few that everyone seem to hate.
He is one of the announcers I don’t care for….but I really like Herbstreit
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
love Herbstreit
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
What number?
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Eye C
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
I wonder if that "Honey Badger" has seen these
Honey Badger don’t care videos, no relation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg
underdog - January 10, 2012
thats how he got the nickname, although he didn’t know about the videos
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
but Musberger said some teammates showed him the video and he liked it
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Yes, sincerity is the key.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
humility is nice
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Amen! ;)
but seriously, as someone who is basically an agnostic Jew, and have nothing in common with him, I admit I cringe every time he starts a presser thanking his Lord and Savior, or at least roll my eyes. I don’t really think he needs to say that but on the other hand, and I’ve always defended this about him, even when he was at Florida, he sincerely believes this stuff, rather than guys who do thank God the defender fell down and they got a TD in the end zone, he seems to talk about God being there whether things go well or things go poorly (and they’ve done both for him this year) and he is genuine in how he approaches it. My personal style and belief system is to preach very quietly and practice what you preach louder, so when he or another athlete does more of the former than the latter i wince, but, as with kershaw, when they are really seeing their religion as an opportunity to do good upon the world, and set a good example, I find it harder to criticize. I still see him as a bit young/naive in how he sees the world and how he brings in religion, maybe will change as he grows up, but at least he’s sincere.
underdog - January 10, 2012
+1
The Dude Abides - January 11, 2012
You don’t see brilliant scientists do much of anything. And many of them are religious as well.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
to be fair, many of them have the social skills of Bodhi.
;)
Maddz - January 10, 2012
I think the issue
is that the media picked it up and ran with it. Sure Tebow may have put it out there more then other athletes, but if the media didn’t gobble it up and then try to force feed it to the entire planet every seconds it wouldn’t matter.
nolander - January 10, 2012
dude was writing scripture on his face
I am all about “blame the media” but the dude was manipulating the platform from day one
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Preaching is expected, how else can you convert?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
he was far from the first
nolander - January 10, 2012
The reason Tebow takes flak is not because he’s Christian. And it’s not because he’s devout. It’s because he flaunts it. I don’t know if Hawk flaunts it or not, but he will never be subject to the same level of scrutiny because he’s not that good. Tim Tebow answers every question from the media with ‘First and foremost, let me praise our Lord and Savior." I honestly don’t know if anybody else does that. If they do, and only Tebow takes guff, then we are talking hypocrisy.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Kurt Warner used to break off every presser with that. He’s one I can think of. He was very open about his beliefs.
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
Dwight Howard?
nolander - January 10, 2012
John Rocker?
jk
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
i was just going to post Kenny Powers as a joke
court168627 - January 10, 2012
Better than mine
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
Of course we’re talking hypocrisy. You saw how quickly people jumped on the “huh huh huh, they don’t think, huh huh” train. Matt Kemp has a huge tattoo on his chest from Matthew, if I’m not mistaken. It’s not on his face, but he’s definitely up there in outspoken religious with his retweets of pastors.
It’s not as if Tebow doesn’t have an audience for what he does that whole heartedly agree with him — it just isn’t the vast majority of posters on this board or the people that troll him for it on twitter/in the media.
Maddz - January 10, 2012
Matt Kemp has known the touch of a woman at least.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
well, there is that
I am all about god, except for that part about fornication
but who are me to judge, I think there is a rafter in my eye
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I will continue to blame the media
nolander - January 10, 2012
here is an article about Kershaw's trip to Africa
which was basically missionary work
notice the lack of any religion mentioned.
This is the website for Kershaw’s mission which is rife with Christian phrasing, not all of which is really obvious.
Maddz - January 10, 2012
Did he go with his wife?
I bet he was getting his missionary on.
ishXdavid - January 10, 2012
oh yes
yes he did
Maddz - January 10, 2012
best. way. ever.
Maddz - January 10, 2012
that literally doesn't make sense to me
but ok clayton! You keep that up!
nolander - January 10, 2012
in Catholic school we were taught that everything we do is a prayer. Any action is an action for god
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
This is awesome teaching
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
It ties into the puritanical “Idle hands are the devils playthings”. It’s all just stuff to keep kids from playing pool
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Now I wanna play 9 ball
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
why don’t you play some nice cultured billiards, or snooker. Any baboon can hit a ball in a pocket
#ohwegottrouble
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Because they don’t have snooker tables where I work, but they have regular pool tables
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
then the terrorists have won
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
We also have ping pong tables and foos ball…….
did they win?
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
nah, that rules
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Hard to stay focused at work sometimes when someone is constantly behind me at work hitting me in the head with a ping pong paddle saying “Dude…..lets go.”
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
Aren’t you big enough to simply splat that fellow?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
it is also very eastern, your actions are a moving mediation – I love it
I say, do whatever you are doing well, because you are the one doing it
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
FTFY
First and foremost, let me praise the randomness of the universe.
David Young - January 10, 2012
“If God created man, and man created the Transformers… the Transformers are like a gift from God, Randall!”
EMDarrow - January 10, 2012
/Catholicschoolfistbump
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
and if you did a wrong action did you get whacked with a ruler?
underdog - January 10, 2012
I like where this is going
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
only when my hot older male teacher asked me to stay after class
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise our Lord and Savior. I’m gonna start all my comments this way now.
David Young - January 10, 2012
Which one?
Steve Jobs or Bill Gates?
nolander - January 10, 2012
x
nolander - January 10, 2012
I would have assumed this was Tommy B posting this
nice one
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
I've yet to master
Posting images
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Then again you’re always on your phone so that would be fairly hard to do.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
it's bringing us love, don't let it get away!
Break his legs!!
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Wait stop, it's Mr Burns
Awww, it’s Mr. Burns….kill et!
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
but not if they only make one free throw
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Yes, a few years back.
Top two records in each conference guaranteed top two seeds. Division winners can be seeded no lower than 4. But home court still decided by record, regardless of seeding.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Ya, they made that change a few years ago after the Mavs (second best record in the league) were a 4 seed and the Clippers tanked the last game of the season to be the 6th seed (and play an inferior Nuggets team rather than a Mavs team that would end up going to the NBA finals.)
Michael White - January 10, 2012
thanks all, saw the clippers listed as the 4 seed but winning their division and got confused.
Thinking about going out to a sports bar or something to watch Lakers/Clippers this Saturday, anyone interested?
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Clippers
will shortly be knocked out of first place, so I hope you all (M.White already did) take your screenshots while you can.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
WGT
Clippers going 2-1 this week (win tonight, lose tomorrow, win Saturday)
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Could be some weird quirk after Saturday where the Lakers are 9-5 (.643) and the Clippers are 6-3 (.667) but the Lakers being up by a half a game despite having a worse winning percentage. Weird schedule imbalance in the early going.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Clippers have had a ton of off games early. This might catch up with them later, but a new team (3 of 5 starters joined this year) I actually think the fewer games and more practice time as a good thing.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Yeah no doubt
Lots of home games early, time for the new team to get practices in (a rarity this season, which is weird) can only help.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
why would the Lakers be higher in that scenario? Not that it matters, but I’m confused.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Games back = ((team 1 wins minus losses) – (team 2 wins minus losses))/2
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Pretty sure the Clippers would still be listed higher because of the higher winning percentage, but the imbalance in games really throws a wrench into things. The standings weren’t designed for outliers like this.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
stupid assuming everyone eventually plays the same number of games. Screw you, Washington!
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
The Clipper have had 5 separate times this season (which is only 17 days long)
where they have had 2 days off in a row.
The Lakers will not get their first two consecutive days off until next week.
The Clippers will have a brutal March with 20 games scheduled and 7 back to backs including another 3 consecutive game stretch. The Lakers will play 17 games that month and have 3 back to backs.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
It ain’t about the standings, it is about who is standing after the postseason.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
playoffs?
You talking about playoffs? You kiddin me?
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Saw this retweeted by Dave
HIlarious:
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Even better
it’s only “almost” 4 in 10
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Wow, didn’t even see that. That’s great.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Pertnear 4 in 10 hate cypherin
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Only 40%?
Nolij - January 10, 2012
why didn't they reduce their fraction to
2 out of 5. ?
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Math is hard
Let’s go shopping.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
It’s not that hard if a guy with a humanities degree can teach it :)
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
that said
I may need a tutor for the Algebra portion of the GMAT. It’s been so long I don’t remember any of the formulas. Know anyone?
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Sure. I can help you out. E-mail me and we can work out a plan.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Probably won’t be for another month or so. Have to see how this job thing plays out before I can really dedicate myself to anything else. I only need a 450 on the whole test, which is just passing, and I’ll do well on the written and analytical parts, but I know I’m going to struggle on the quantitative.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
My niece is tutoring her fellow middle school classmates
in math.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
A+B=C?
A+B=B+A?
man i’m good
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
I got a C+ in Geometry when I was studying Geometry. I can only imagine what taking 10 years off from math would do.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I got Bs in Algebra, then let’s just say did not do well in Geometry and Algebra 2. I’m not a fan of graphing and what that entails at all. Give me numbers all day.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Arithmetic
kinbote - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise Allah! For my daughter tutors mathematics. But college level.
David Young - January 10, 2012
That’s what I’m saying!
Nolij - January 10, 2012
These two comments in succession were brilliant
BFDC - January 10, 2012
Math is always funner
when the math problems are made more practical. I was computing batting averages, and games behind in the standings in Kindergarten. Or at least it felt that way.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
what makes English funner?
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Hunter S. Thompson?
BFDC - January 10, 2012
French
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Gooder English
Its the most funnest of all
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
brandy in their tea
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I thought they only drank Gin
And made sour faces
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Only in County Kavula
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Hmmm, maybe sports related math word problems.
Frank borrows $400M to buy a baseball team. Bud slaps Frank on the butt three times. At what rate can Jamie build swimming pools with Frank’s money?
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I thought Jaimie was involved in the spanking
And she included players in that, lots and lots of players, during their “private” shower time.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Frank was buying parking lots with Jamie’s money.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
shakespear plays
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
He said English.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
screw your courage to the sticking place and never disrespect the bard again!
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Sally forth, tally ho.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
oh lord
lol
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Per
Adam S. of ESPN.com
Raiders just fired their head coach.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Because THAT will help em win
Now that Al is gone, can they try and court Gruden again?
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
He made too many dumb mistakes down the stretch.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
how many years did he get at the helm?
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
uno
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
new boss, same as the old boss
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
That would be 1
2011, following the indomitable Tom Cable
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
could it mean anything
For Palmer?
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Man, it’s too bad they can’t find someone fiery who is able to motivate a large group of adults while still possessing the game management knowledge it takes to reach the super bowl.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Bill Cowher likes being a commentator
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Lazy gig for a brilliant person. At some point he’ll be back.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I was thinking Gruden. I dislike Cowher for every snap he ever gave to Kordell Stewart.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
but slash threw that pass that one time at the Big House!
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
I lived through the slash years, who else was supposed to play QB?
God, remember when Slash let Denver back into the AFC championship game with that stupid INT that Elway turned into a touchdown right before half that then led to the Denver superbowl
I do
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
at times I greatly enjoyed Kordell. He is the only person I know who has the same name as my Grandmother.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Your grandma's name was Slash? Cool!
underdog - January 10, 2012
She was a hell of a guitarist.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012 via mobile
He had to start based on who the Steelers had as backups, but he was so awkward behind center it was hard to watch. I did love watching Jermoe bettis though.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
It’s sad that they wasted Hines Ward’s early years being thrown to by an inadequate passer.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I will defer to delias man on what my reaction should be.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
A bit of astonishing trivia with that
When Oakland gets its next coach, it will have had as many coaches in the last 13 months as the Steelers have in the last 42 years.
(via twitter)
underdog - January 10, 2012
Bill Shaikin is now on KPCC (89.3 FM)
Talking about the bids to buy the Dodgers
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Timeline
The winning bidder is to be identified on April 1st, sale to be closed by April 30th.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Thanks. Update us on anything interesting.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
With that timeline and the prevalence of twitter, it seems like the winner will be leaked sometime in late Feb or March
BFDC - January 10, 2012
That will depend on McCourt
since he is the one who decides
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Right, but I’m saying its pretty unlikely with a transaction of this magnitude that the real “winner” will be selected on Apr 1 and the deal will close 30 days later. More likely the winner is picked like Mar 1, and has some time to get all their ducks in a row before they announce who it is 30 days later and then a closing another 30 days after that.
BFDC - January 10, 2012
This seems likely. I can’t imagine that a transition like this can take place in 30 days.
OB12 - January 10, 2012
Interesting
That could certainly change the tenor of Opening Day
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
opening day is 4/4,so they’d have 3 days to do the PR tour and attend the home opener to a sellout standing ovation.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I imagine this sells out the Freeway series
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
On the list of things that sellout the freeway series, new Dodgers owner is at least below
A) it’s always sold out
B) Albert Pujols
C) Matt Kemp
D) Clayton Kershaw
E) Jered Weaver
F) It’s always sold out
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Hmmm
not sure if the preseason freeway series does sell out. Not lately anyway. Could be wrong. Doubt it.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Yeah I don’t think so either.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I forgot about the preseason freeway series and thought she meant the in season one.
My b.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Why would you go when you’re gonna see the same thing six more times when it actually counts.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
usually cheap tix on stubhub
court168627 - January 10, 2012
Which is different from a regular season Dodger game because
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
because there arent cheap tix to the Dodgers-Angels game on stubhub?
court168627 - January 10, 2012
define cheap
I got pretty cheap tickets to angels dodgers this year
nolander - January 10, 2012
im sure you can get 15 dollar tix for the nosebleeds
but you can get those same seats for 4 or 5 to most regular season games
court168627 - January 10, 2012
I can’t see anybody caring enough of a freeway series to say that they need to see it no matter if the game matters or not.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
I got $50 seats for field level about 12 rows almost directly behind the plate at a Dodgers/Angels game last year.
It was the Kershaw complete game + Tony Gwynn 9th inning RBI single game.
Taylor Maricle - January 10, 2012
but the preseason is the only true freeway series where it’s three games in alternating stadiums
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Yup
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Why do people go to Camelback?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Fun excuse to get out of town
/guy who still hasn’t gotten off his ass and gone after planning on it for 3 years
Michael White - January 10, 2012
it’s a lot of fun.
Maddz - January 10, 2012
Right answer, as is going to the freeway series.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Hey, where is Chris these days?
that was his question
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
To work on their sunburn?
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
2011 Freeway Series
at Dodger Stadium 19,415
at Angel Staidum 27,779
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
First appearance of Albert Pujols in California (as an Angel)? I suspect it’ll be pretty well attended this year.
EMDarrow - January 10, 2012
F)
Pretty sure every game wasn’t a sell out last season
court168627 - January 10, 2012
We won’t see CK or Jered in the freeway series. If it was the Subway series, we’d see Jared, though.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Will it be sold out?
iiidown - January 10, 2012
I wouldn’t be surprised if the new owner doesn’t show his face at Dodger Stadium, at least an any official capacity, until the sale is closed.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
before it’s official he’ll attend disguised as an usher on a new episode of Undercover Boss
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
All the while the Lead Usher will never question why this new guy, who sorta looks like Joe Torre, is being followed by a camera crew.
OB12 - January 10, 2012
I think an umpire is clearly a better option.
EMDarrow - January 10, 2012
why are the Angels playing at Dodger Stadium?
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Because the director thought the big A looked like shit and used a real stadium
/totalguess
EMDarrow - January 10, 2012
Probably the same reason the Cleveland Indians played their home games at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. Some combo of availability, convenience, and possibly cost.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
or that other time when the Angels played at the Oakland Coliseum
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Because the tractor pull was at Anaheim Stadium.
/notreallysure
iiidown - January 10, 2012
This is what we need
From Floyd Mayweather:
Also, Floyd won $400,000 on Alabama last night.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
That doesn't cover the losses from Tebow
Heh heh
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Oh, he must’ve took the under on number of different plays in the LSU playbook. 7-1/2.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I really don’t know why Pac won’t take this fight (unless he is roiding and it really is the drug tests that spook him off.) Sure, he’ll lose, but unlike Mayweather he doesn’t have his legacy tied to being undefeated (since he’s not.) The only thing that could derail his legacy is getting popped for steroids, so I have to think that’s the answer.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
I see Floyd is going more direct this time. For the avoidance of doubt, he’s no longer referring to him as “the little fella” and now calling him out by name.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
I will fight anyone on this board if paid $40 million.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
I’d fight Floyd Mayweather for $40mil.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
that I would be scared of, yes. but he might kill me
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
4 million
400K
40k
4K
I don’t think 400 bucks is enough, but I might laugh enough to think about it
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
We’ve already established what kind of guy you are; now we’re just negotiating. :)
kinbote - January 10, 2012
oh, we knew before this email if we were paying attention
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
i'm along your line of thinking
1 grand would be swell with me
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
madeleine had her first and last AMF last night
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
lmao
Dude, they’re amazing, but the first one WILL fuck you up. Even with everything I was told about them, it just hit me like a ton of bricks.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
It’s almost as if being told about 100 proof alcohol doesn’t actively build up your tolerance to it. Go figure.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Despite that being the obvious response
I’m still giving the computer the stink eye reading that.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
it tasted like blue. I did not enjoy.
I was tipsy. Also I had 1 1/2 AMFs
Maddz - January 10, 2012
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
blue tastes awesome, FWIW
This is definitely my drink of choice, fruity looking or not
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
I'll bite
What’s an AMF?
mleadman - January 10, 2012
blue
nolander - January 10, 2012
the modern long island
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
the modern long island is still the long island
nolander - January 10, 2012
Does it stand for
Adios Mother Fucker?
mleadman - January 10, 2012
If it doesn’t, it should
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
it does
nolander - January 10, 2012
All was right with the world
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
tastier too
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
last night i took a sip and was like
oh holy shit this is awful, it tastes like alcohol
and Gary goes, “They didn’t call it a ‘go gently to sleep’, they call it an ‘Adios, Motherfucker’”
Maddz - January 10, 2012
So was Gary the one ordering them?
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
no, I did
Maddz - January 10, 2012
this story also deserves a rec
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Adios Mother Fucker
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
I would fight anyone in the world for $40mm
BFDC - January 10, 2012
Those knees and kidney shots Alistair Overeem landed on Brock Lesnar a few weeks ago might literally kill a normal sized human being.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
that is what I am saying
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Yea but I would go down immediately after one and the fight would be stopped. i could buy a new liver and kidney if need be
BFDC - January 10, 2012
Ha. I think the theoretical “I would fight so and so” question requires you to actually fight the guy. You need to be willing to go out there and try, not dance around and then flop after the first shot.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
that’s what I’m saying
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Haha I’m not saying I would flop. I’m saying that first shot would probably be all it would take for the ref to stop it. If it took 2 – 3 shots, fine. Its still $40mm and a risk worth taking.
BFDC - January 10, 2012
You REALLY don’t want to have to do this. If I wasn’t so lazy I’d take a picture of my eyes right now and you’d see what big lemonheads would look like if they had the inner eye painted on them.
I’m not sure I’d want to fight some of the women boxers out there in fear of them killing me. Not even for $40 mil.
VegasBlues - January 10, 2012
Alright Kinbote, you and me
This has been brewing for months, hahah.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Raise the capital lol
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Ironic use of the lol. Excellent start to the trash talk.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
hahaha
Great stuff
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
I will fight Humma for $30 mil.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
ha ha
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Eric, look at the response
I think the first ever TBLA Fight Night is in order, make it happen
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
I would totally do that
heavy gloves, amateur boxing rules, head gear
would be fun
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I’d be up for that, wonder if we could rent a ring
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
meh.
just do it like me and my friends did when we were 14. find someone with a finished basement.
court168627 - January 10, 2012
I think we need the ring to keep order and limit mayhem and to make the best photos imaginable out of the carnage
I wonder how many folks have had any kind of boxing training
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I’ve now taken three kickboxing classes. I’m fairly certain Maddz would kick everyone’s asses in organized boxing situations.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Kickboxing would be a problem
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I imagine not throwing any kicks.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
unless you're really good at throwing kicks
it’s a great way to get your leg swept, Johnny
Maddz - January 10, 2012
I did Krav Maga for a number of years and some police lead training Boxing and street fighting
I am sure she is fit, and could score the heck out of points, she’d hurt me for sure….but I’d feel real bad knocking out such a smart and pretty girl.
and this would have to be Boxing – no MMA or kick boxing stuff
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Doesn’t all this training already eliminate you from the comp, or do you simply want to beat up a few of us?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I’d pull punches, except maybe against the young big guys who were trying to kill me. Have you seen the size of Bobby?
it would just be fun to spar and mess around
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I’d let Maddz slug me, but she’d have to pay $100 for the pleasure
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
and just you Phil, just you
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
i told mad what you said, her verbatim response was
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
The Isreali art of dick grabbing isn’t much use in a Boxing match.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
true – but the experience sparing and getting hit would be
keeping your head while someone is hitting you (in the head) takes some experience
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
This is very true. My bff Anna did some sparing with our instructor and after a few weeks I will never, ever, EVER spar against her.
Maddz - January 10, 2012
I could never get the hang of it in rugby/football
one blow to the head and I was confuzzled for a bit
nolander - January 10, 2012
god do I miss the head slap
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I'm worried that one day they will take away
cut blocks from my beloved Texans.
nolander - January 10, 2012
cut blocks are bush
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I would expect nothing less from her
My money is on Maddz
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise kick-ass women! You know, she and I are probably the weight class fit. I would get surely be killed. At least it would be quick and merciful.
David Young - January 10, 2012
I think the only person in my weight class would be Jrock, and fuck that.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I'm hoping to put on 60 pounds of muscle
so I can be in Broke Lessnar’s weight class
nolander - January 10, 2012
you’d have better luck convincing Brock Lessnar to give you a piggie back ride while he beat the shit out of someone
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
“My god! Is that nolander’s music!”
Then nolander attacks Lesnar from behind.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
You should go
for Brock Landers weight class instead
mleadman - January 10, 2012
TBLA Dad stories
First and foremost, let me praise our fathers! My dad fought a smidge (and I mean a tiny bit) when he was a very young man, as a lightweight I imagine (we’re built alike). When we were kids he taught us the basics, even bought two pairs of gloves and a put a speedbag in the garage. We never got farther than light sparring (headgear, what headgear?) among my brothers and a few of the other boys in the neighborhood. I’m certain that I can’t fight for crap and that I am getting too old for this shit.
David Young - January 10, 2012
My Dad boxed at West Point in the ultra ultra light weight (120 Ilbs or less) not because he could box but because every West Pointer has to participate in a sport. His nose was straight when he started college, I’ve only known it with nasty breaks. He said he was not very good but that he was a big draw because he was a bleeder, as soon as someone hit his nose he’d start bleeding and the crowd loved it.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
My dad didn't box
his fight advice: If you find yourself in a fight, grab a rock, or a stick or anything you can find to end it quickly. Fight as dirty as you can
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Your Dad is very smart.
iiidown - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise classic boxing weight classes! The traditional limits were 126 for featherweights (like Bobby Chacon) and 118 for bantamweights (like Carlos Zarate). My assumption is that the army would have used the traditional weight classes back in the day.
David Young - January 10, 2012
I love how boxing just starts outright insulting people once you get below lightweight.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise the little man! If you stretch it, bantams could refer to fighting roosters, but feather and fly, well….
David Young - January 10, 2012
A small fighting rooster.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise barnyard animals!
Are you saying a tiny cock?
David Young - January 10, 2012
I heart you so much right now, David
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise the gift of Josie!
David Young - January 10, 2012
… but I am befuddled. For the exploration of the definition of bantam, for classic boxing weight classes, for a mention of an LA local hero, or for hinting at stretching the bantam as a euphemism?
David Young - January 10, 2012
for your first and foremost meme
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Bantamweight it is.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
yes, I know we could
sounds like something hemmingway would have done, followed by eating 300 oysters, drinking a boat load of wine, and then bedding a 16 year old Spanish girl
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
if enough folks wants in
we could also get a real ref, which I think truly makes it work and mostly safe
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
I found Eric's opponent
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
awesome
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
No matter the outcome
the headline: “Pussy Goes Down, First Round TKO”
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
LOL(cat)
underdog - January 10, 2012
great
kinbote - January 10, 2012
That’s a great name for a boxing cat.
jim hitchcock (railway) - January 10, 2012
I'm there Kinbote
Can I keep my hat on for the fight? You know, spice it up.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Pleasantly surprised to read through this whole thread and not see one Andre Gives the Finger picture.
And yes I was, and am, tempted. Who will give in?
underdog - January 10, 2012
That's for later
When we actually have a response from Endre
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Memo to Josie
Reading an essay you might appreciate: “E Unibus Pluram: Television and U.S. Fiction” by David Foster Wallace (1990).
kinbote - January 10, 2012
oh very much so yes!
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
In my house
for a number of years, but not recently, when my wife or I got roped into something we didn’t like we’d describe it as “A supposedly fun thing I’ll never do again”
I enjoyed DFW (the author, not the airport)
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
Nice
That’s the book it’s from.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
All that BCS talk upthread
it’s a lot of fun, we have a lot of laughs, but we’re forgetting that there is a Division 1 NCAA Football Champion who won the title through a NCAA sanctioned tournament.
Your 2011 NCAA Div 1 Champion North Dakota St. Bison!
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Their education is aparently less important then FCS teams
nolander - January 10, 2012
they are FCS, FBS is what you meant
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
and it’s silly to compare the logistics of Alabama and LSU’s traveling fans to New Orleans not to mention all the national media and corporate sponsors to North Dakota St. and Sam Houston St. fans traveling to Frisco, TX’s to play in an MLS stadium on ESPN2.
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
why?
all the kids should have to do is jump on a plane or bus. The rest should be handled by the adults.
nolander - January 10, 2012
should being the operative word there
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
and
nolander - January 10, 2012
and when Dr Pepper and Allstate are operating partners there’s more to it than that
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
I don't think it would be that hard to reduce the interview and photo op requirements for the kids
to get more games, which in turn would be good for both the sponsors and the NCAA
nolander - January 10, 2012
all of this was a ploy to mention the MLS.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
It’s a real league! We have stadiums and an official ball!
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
hahaha
court168627 - January 10, 2012
That you couldn’t see in the rain in MLS Cup.
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
that silver ball was a misstep, yes, and apparently the Galaxy are going to use it all year next year as Campeones
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
When the MLS final can't even get
a 1.0 national rating, I am not sure it is a real league yet.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
but you have to admit, it’s getting better
it’s getting better all the time…
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
just like the economy
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
it can’t get any worse
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Hasn’t been the same since Andrew Shue retired.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
even WWE Raw gets in the high 2s and low 3s
But I guess there is a lot of white trash out there
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
*I watch wrestling
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Me too. And I’m not even white!
fbihop - January 10, 2012
haha
Just going off the stereotypes. I’ve lived in a couple mobile homes, the only thing i was missing was love for nascar :P
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
My friend and I went to a bar for Wrestlemania last year. It was an interesting crowd. A lot of pickup trucks out front and not many people who looked like they went to work in a suit.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
hahah, that's awesome
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
My favorite part was when Alberto del Rio came out to wrestle, some old lady (probably in her 70s) yelled, “KICK HIS HEAD OFF!”
It was the best.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
lol that's perfect
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
so where there ANY good highlights of somoene getting pasted last night?
I hear the QB broke that guys femur after throwing the pick
nolander - January 10, 2012
I wondered
after watching the play and the replay if had they been on natural grass would that injury have happened.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
delias man has sent me 3 texts today of cars on the freeway.
dude needs to go back to work
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
Just spent about three hours writing a story on a campaign finance decision by a US District Court Judge. That sucked.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
This is fitting
Tomorrow my daughter is having her tonsils and adnoids removed….
If you pray, drop one in there for her if you don’t mind.
If you just think good thoughts about people, I’ll take those too!
:)
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
Best of luck. Ice cream FTMFW
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Good luck, should be a breeze. Don’t forget to promise her ice cream.
I had it done twice, evidently some Military doctors are hacks.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
No doubt. She is pumped about the popsicles.
I’m pumped about the ice cream. (She never eats more than 3 bites….we can’t let that go to waste.)
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
Efficient.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Popsicles
do they still sell otter pops in Arkansas?
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
If they don’t, they otter.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
So did they just fish around in there for 30 minutes and tap out?
keithc13 - January 10, 2012
Don’t know.
Had em done when I was 6 or 7. Throat was killing me again when I was 8, went to the doctor and they said they had to remove my tonsils. My parents were like “WAT”.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise science! Meercats can grow ‘em back? Can they grow back other things? Seems like a useful talent. Maybe you’ll grow back a prostate after the first one is removed.
David Young - January 10, 2012
you are firstly praising lots of stuff :)
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
All good thoughts to her
I know you saved some prayers for her after I know you reluctantly sent good thoughts to Nick Saban to beat Les Miles.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
That was like choosing between Pol Pot and Idi Amin.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
How old is she now? Did you have a second one or is that on the way or am I completely out to lunch on Keith expecting another?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
done
kinbote - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise surgeons! Good luck with that. Little ones in the hospital is no fun, even if things are supposed to be routine.
David Young - January 10, 2012
Seems like an elaborate dick move, but I laughed at the headline at least.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Yeah. Who goes near tennis courts?
Nolij - January 10, 2012
Looks like that weirdo is played by Skeet Ulrich
underdog - January 10, 2012
Yeah, played by :)
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I can't remember the last time I bought of any of these beers in a store
Coors Light now No. 2 in total U.S. beer sales.
It is probable that I have had the occasional Bud Light or Miller Lite at a ballpark.
I have not seen Natural Light in LA for a while.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
at what point did we as a nation decide to only drink light beer?
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
evidently
the fatter we get the more we like to buy shit labled “Light”
Hollywood Joe - January 10, 2012
When the Marketers decided the masses were weak and ready for exploitation
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
you still occasionally see commercials for Bud or Coors, but the light beer commercials are the ones with young people having fun, and the regular beer commercials are narrated like a WWII video
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
For one month I’d like to see all drugs legalized just so I could see what the Marketers could come up with to entice me.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
made with 100% pure opium
Like my great-grandad smoked in them tents out in gold country.
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
with traditional Chinese music in the background, I love it!
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
not rap music?
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
rap music is only used for the Opium Light commercials
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
I’m a beer snob, I can’t remember the last time I voluntarily had a Bud/Bud Light.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
So someone has involuntarily poured one down your throat?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
What happens in Tijuana stays in Tijuana.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I wish this was true, unfortunately it dribbles out, most of the way back home.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Once I have enough beers at a party, I will drink any beer people put in front of me.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
If you haven’t seen Natty in LA for a while, you aren’t looking nearly hard enough. It’s the leading beer for college students
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Well
I don’t buy beer too often, so there is that.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Gary
Check your email
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Hey PHil
Here’s a screenshot of the Living Social thing:
fbihop - January 10, 2012
So much better if read as slang.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
There you go, noephyte with shotguns and whiskey. To be fair the whiskey testing is after the gun instruction
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
that's awful
It should be whiskey tasting + shotgun skeet, BBQ
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
if wanna have fun
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise the second amendment!
LOLOLOL. Isn’t the wildest thing out there the meth labs?David Young - January 10, 2012
Gary
check your email
I didn’t send anything but I guess that is new thing to say
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
NOOOOOOOOOO
Shit BH, you can’t get involved!!!!! You’re a target now!
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Hey everyone, check your DMs.
#twitter
fbihop - January 10, 2012
the plan has been compromised. Eagle out.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
damn
We’ve come too far!!
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012 via iPhone app
Another time!
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
actually, you did send something, and I was thrilled to receive it.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Great picture
of LA Rams fans throwing money at Eric Dickerson after he left for the Colts.
If you’re on Twitter, you should follow @si_vault, which posts a lot of awesome pictures from Sports Illustrated.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
That security guard on top of the dugout looks like he was taking a piss.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Whenever I see short shorts on men I wonder why we ever wore them.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
apparently its my fault I got overcharged
because I didn’t call them to let them know they shouldn’t overcharge me.
nolander - January 10, 2012
#Windows
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
yeah!
wait, what?
nolander - January 10, 2012
Stands to reason
right? lol
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
overcharge or overdraft?
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
overcharged by 600+ bucks
because after returning my equipment 2 weeks ago, I didn’t call their billing apartment to tell them I had I guess, which makes no sense.
nolander - January 10, 2012
nolander - January 10, 2012
check your email
kinbote - January 10, 2012
We Already Know What The Worst HoF Ballot of 2013 Will Be
Hal Bradley
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
This is why the Hall of Fame and its members only matters to the Hall of Fame and its members. For the rest of us, it’s an unnecessary ource of frustration, and something cool to visit every few years.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Dan Syzmborski was ranting on Twitter about this and I agree with him. Baseball is a game that prides itself on its history and it’s Hall of Fame shouldn’t be reduced to a trivial detail. It should be a celebration of the games best players, not a place where writers hold morality plays.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Lets make our own TBLA Hall of Fame.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
We tried that. Even wrote like 20 stories between the mods and members. Never voted on it.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Ha ha, said the kettle
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
True enough.
I still argue with Delias Man regarding Green vs. Mondesi, so I’m kind of curious if one of those two or neither made it in the first vote.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Neither would have, I’d have made sure of that:)
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
My argument was basically that the LOTR needed at least one contemporary player or manager. I guess Piazza would have fit that description, but he was gone before I was old enough to really follow the Dodgers intelligently, so I think Green spoke to some of the younger fans on this board.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
I was a die hard Piazza fan since before his call up….and then Green became my favorite player after Piazza left. Before Piazza’s rookie year my Dad would go on and on about how great he was going to be and I just ran with it and started collecting all the cards and memorabilia I could before most people who weren’t Dodger fans even knew who he was. Green was just sick as soon as he put on a Dodger uniform. I think he had 42 jacks for Toronto the year before….we definitely scored on that trade, since Mondesi was never as good as he was as a Dodger.
VeroJoe - January 10, 2012
Not voting? Sounds like something from McCovey Chronicles.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
I think there should be a Hall of Did Great Things for the Dodgers
So Marlon Anderson would definitely be included.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
And Chan Ho Park
fbihop - January 10, 2012
Steve Finley
kinbote - January 10, 2012
you beat me to it Kinbote….umm….Lima & Burnitz?
VeroJoe - January 10, 2012
Tyler Houston (for lighting a fire under Beltre)
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Secret Agent Salomon Torres ;)
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Dare I say JD, Kent, Martin, and Nomar (of course the earlier mentioned Marlon) for the 4+1 night?
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
That is a HOF Moment, like the four guys who hit 30 home runs in a season (Garvey, Cey, Baker and ……
for extra points, Dusty Baker hit his 30th on the last game of the season against which famous Dodger Killer? One of the greatest pitchers of his brief time
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
if iiidown were here i'm 95% sure he'd have the answer
I think it would be fun to have a project where a bunch of us pick someone to write about, who isn’t actually a HOF talent player, but just someone who we feel has made themselves an all-time Dodger by doing something big for us.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Do it, hell I’ve written about Bill Sudakis. I doubt you can write front page material but who knows, they let me on all the time:)
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I'm 99% I can't, lol
Plus I’d rather read other people’s more witty and eloquent writing about these things :)
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Do it, surprise yourself, if you don’t write about somebody who left a mark on you, who will?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Perhaps we will see
My biggest problem is my memory.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Lou Johnson
Manny
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Is not voting in someone who cheated a morality play?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Yes, lots of cheaters are in the Hall of Fame.
But it’s not just steroids, it’s Jack Morris becoming the standard bearer in the war against stat geeks, it’s Ron Santo being left out until he was dead because he dared to suggest he belonged in the Hall of Fame. The BBWAA isn’t interested in letting the best players in, they’re interested in themselves.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
What is the written criteria that BBWAA is “suppose” to use?
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I think the criteria states...
“As a member of the BBWAA, YOU are a genius! You know everything that should ever be known and ever will be known about this glorious pastime. So just go for it!”
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
I figured that was probably wrong
so I looked it up myself.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
lets debate if steroids where sporting!
and or reflected on their character!
nolander - January 10, 2012
I’m with xeifrank on this one, if there are writers who choose that steroids= cheating and therefore are reflections on their character or sportmanship, that’s there call (even if I don’t 100% agree.)
I just choose to ignore the steroids questions for now because I’m not real passionate about it.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
integrity
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Man, we are like BFFs now. Kind of scary. Wanna go get some ice cream?
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Of course
We can talk politics and religion just no mention of BCS
Michael White - January 10, 2012
I was toggling sports talk stations during my lunch drive today. It was BCS vs. Raiders’ coaching situation. I popped in a CD.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
glad to hear you didn’t just hit the eject button and parachute out.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
if integrity, sportsmanship and character were among the criteria, I could see how certain players get left off ballots.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Silly to have sportsmanship as a criteria.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Jamey carroll and Jeremy Affeldt were just trying to boost their candidacy.
More to the point, I could see why, as a tiebreaker, those three things are used to keep guys like Albert Belle out.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
As a tie breaker sure, why not, but there are some incredibly shitty people in the Hall of Fame so you can’t pull that card too often.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
integrity!
My biggest factor of whether a player is great or not
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
I’m not surprised that you would mock integrity.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I am
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
that’s a different boxing match for a different ring
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Who's mocking integrity
I’m mocking that integrity has to do with how great a player was.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
I was going to make a joke about Hitler
and the world leader HOF, but I just don’t have it in me right now
nolander - January 10, 2012
Once we run across some Hitler-esque players then I'll agree
haha
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
being great is one of the criteria as is integrity. They are two seperate things.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Hell, it doesn’t even say to weigh them evenly. They leave that up to the voters, and I love that.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Would be funny if some nerdy writer came up with a formula with all of the criteria in it and published it as the way they vote.
One over being an asshole squared minus the cube root of playing the game the right way minus 58 times the number of viles of steroids taken plus ground rule doubles.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I try not to get involved in the HoF banter of who belongs who doesn’t belong etc… It is kind of like the Academy Awards or any of the mTV/Movies/Music awards. It’s nice to have a forum to recognize the achievment of the players/artists but don’t get too bothered one way or the other over who wins or gets voted in. It is all so subjective and at least in the baseball HoF they probably get it right a lot more times than not.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
The “not worth being worth a first ballot hall of famer” thing is so stupid.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
If Babe Ruth played in today's era
He wouldn’t unanimously make the 1st ballot, just so some writer out there could prove a point
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
black blood
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
???
That reference is lost on me, sorry
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
Back when Ruth would have been voted in, I could have envisioned one writer not voting for him because he had allegedly black bloodlines.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Got it
Man when I did a Google Search, thinking this was more of an obscure reference I got some hits…well lets just say that apparently menstruating black is something that one does not want to experience.
Champ Kind - January 10, 2012
I’m guessing that most here don’t want to be menstruating, period.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I'm guessing no one here really wants to menstruate
they may tolerate it for its positive benifits, but no one really wants to do it. I could be wrong though.
nolander - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise procreation! Depends why you are not menstruating and if you desire that outcome or not. AKA, “thank god, I was just LATE.”
David Young - January 10, 2012
check
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Yes
there were people who spread those stories.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Does that mean he thinks Piazza, Schilling and Biggio are hall of famers?
I kind of like the distinction of first-ballot hall of famer as a first tier of hall of famers, the inner circle if you will. the “you’re off the ballot if you don’t get 5%” thing makes that tricky though. It’s like when pitchers walk anyone approaching Sadaharu Oh’s record. Signs of respect.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Even thinking Piazza doesn’t belong in a group that includes Eddie Murray, Dave Winfield, Kirby Puckett, Lou Brock, etc. is just plain wrong.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Piazza & Thome would be automatic first ballot players IMO…..whereas I could see Schilling and Biggio going in the second time around. I wasn’t completely sold on Larkin however being the fan that I am of power hitting middle infielders I a really glad to see him go in!
VeroJoe - January 10, 2012
You know who will be an interesting guy to talk about? Adam Dunn. Assuming he’s at least half productive over the next 5 years or so.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Adam Dunn will have the same memory as Bob Horner, Meaning other then those who say him play will remember him.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
A year ago at this time I felt Adam Dunn could have a shot at the AL MVP.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Ditto
but at 365 HR through age 31, he could reach 500 still.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
I heavily advocated for us to go after him…this is shortly before I became a TBLA member. Knowing what I know now, I would have made a horrible call. I liked Dunn’s game. People on here argued how bad it would be to have the K rates of Kemp and Dunn in this lineup would have a horrible outcome.
VeroJoe - January 10, 2012
Meh
Try to gather as much information as you can with the amount of time allotted, make your decision based on that information and that information alone, then live satisfied you made the best decision in those unique circumstances. Hindsight solves nothing, nor does it prove the decision to be correct or incorrect. You can make the correct decision and have it go wildly south for you, and you can make the absolute worst decision possible and still come out on top. But the decision and the moment in which that decision was made never change.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Besides, as a Dodger he’d have hit another 40 home runs and still have his appendix.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
We talking about Beltre or Dunn?
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Dunn
VeroJoe - January 10, 2012
Well said and I agree. I simply wasn’t as knowledgeable about statlines as I have become since joining TBLA….thanks to you guys. I played ball my whole life and still only thought that only the following stats meant anything…
Hitters: avg, r, h, hr, rbi, slg, sb, oba
Pitchers: w-l, era, k/bb, sv
what little did I know
VeroJoe - January 10, 2012
Yeah, that’s how I grew up playing too. Would be scary to coach my daughters 7 year old softball team because I would be plugging their stats in to my sim to come up with the most efficient lineup.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
This reminds me of the Simpsons saber episode, lol
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
even as a kid, OBP and SLG were advanced metrics that i didn’t care about.
It was all the roto stats: AVG, H, R, HR, RBI, SB/ W-L, ERA, K, SV
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise sabremetrics! While Slg% wasn’t on the backs of baseball cards, I do remember, even as a kid, looking at BA and looking at the XBH numbers to get an idea of the power a guy was bringing to the plate, essentially a crude Slg%.
David Young - January 10, 2012
My first recollection of Park Effects was listening to the 66 World Series and Dick Stuart hit a long out to the outfield, and my older brother said in disgust anywhere else that is a home run.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I remember all the talk of foul territory at DS and Oakland, where I saw the bulk of my childhood games.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Just look at the 2010 Giants
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
I say screw K rates
Let’s get Dunn, bring up Sands and Russell and trade back for Rod! lol
But seriously, if anyone didn’t want Dunn (or think he wouldn’t be productive) I would still say now that they were wrong. People should be worried about his defense, but at 1B it won’t matter a ton. .250/.375/.525 with 35 HR (potential for 40) was something he should have been able to do. I have no idea he could fall off a cliff that easily and that fast, but I think he will come back really strong in 2012 FWIW.
I still think Dunn’s contract won’t be a bad one.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise retirement!
Dunn’s done.
David Young - January 10, 2012
Frank Thomas should be a first ballot guy
I don’t think he will though
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
For those whining about
service fee’s I give you the Kings and Service Free Wednesday
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I have said before the first baseball book I ever read
was about the first 5 players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. I went there and spend a good part of a day at Cooperstown reading the plaques and seeing the exhibits.
If I were a voter for the HOF, I am not sure what my criteria would be. I mean, I really do think there is a difference between the great and the very good. It just isn’t good enough to be the best in your time, you should be among the best of all time.
That standard is probably too high and not many would reach that so I would have to adjust that. But that is what this fan of baseball for over 40 years thinks and I frankly think it is as logical as any other opinion by any baseball writer out there has about who should go in the HOF.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
But you yourself have said that to compare era’s is a fool’s folly so that really only leaves you with comparing the players against their peers. I think they need to be great, not the Don Sutton’s, Jim Rice’s, Andre Dawsons of the world.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I agree
I am inconsistent in this regard.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
It won't really matter per one writer
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
I’d include him just for the complete games alone. Beast.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
175 total with a high of 20.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
And the mustache
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012 via mobile
In those first 5 players elected
By all accounts Mathewson, Johnson and Wagner were wonderful people and had the highest integrity. Babe Ruth had his off-the-field escapades and feuds with Yankee management but he was not seen as a cheater. Ty Cobb was certainly racist and to say he wasn’t popular with other players would be an understatement. Also Cobb and Tris Speaker did have one accusation raised about fixing games or betting on baseball in their career.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Do you think they added the Integrity, Sportsmanship, and Character, because at the time the Black Sox scandal was still a recent memory?
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I don’t think anyone doubts that Ty Cobb did things that were not legal, in baseball or otherwise.
Nolij - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise baseball movies!
David Young - January 10, 2012
Stewart Mandel (SI writer) on BCS discussion on changes:
fbihop - January 10, 2012
ok so you have the plus one game, who plays? Alabama and OKSU?
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Its just Stanford plays LSU
OKSU playes Alabama, then winners play each other.
nolander - January 10, 2012
I don't think so
I think they’d play the bowl games based on historical tie-ins (Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, etc.) then re-rank after that’s done and take the top two teams and play in a NCG. Hence, the plus one
Michael White - January 10, 2012
ew
nolander - January 10, 2012
Not enough better than current system to be worth doing imo. I think #3 vs #2 and winner players #1 is a better plus one system.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
so they’d have a final four situation?
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
so they’d have a final four situation?
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Would have likely been maneuvered if at all possible to have LSU (1) vs Stanford (4) in one bowl (say Sugar), then Alabama (2) vs. Oklahoma St. (3) in another bowl (Fiesta), with the winner facing off a week later.
Or something like that.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012 via mobile
The University of Oregon plays the following teams at home for their nonconference schedule next season:
9/1/12 Arkansas State Red Wolves
9/8/12 Fresno State Bulldogs
9/15/12 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
I’d like to blame the BCS for this too.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
They have learned from the SEC
nolander - January 10, 2012
As you should
Michael White - January 10, 2012
I'm not an expert on bowl game economics
But I don’t think the Sugar Bowl would be too happy about this arrangement. One team’s fanbase doesn’t need to travel, the other isn’t exactly known for travellign.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
I think you’re way is probably right anyway, if only because of the Rose Bowl. If one of the top four teams is from the Pac-12 or Big Ten, but their opponent isn’t, that would mess up the whole “Final Four” aspect. So I think you are right in that they would stick to whatever tie-ins are available then just have the top two meet after all the bowls are done.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
you’re, your.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
this just obscures the main point. the bcs isnt about crowning a champion, its about making money.
hee came hee seop'd he choi'd - January 10, 2012
Sure it is about making money. But it is too much about “certain” people only making money. The ones with the cash cow are not willing to share. By creating a truly fair playoff system those profiting heavily now may not profit as heavily in a fairer system because there would be more hands on the cows teets.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I just wonder if the conferences blow up the ncaa first before any meaningful changes get made..
hee came hee seop'd he choi'd - January 10, 2012
Without the NCAA
the conferences don’t get their big March Madness money.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Which is one reason why folks don't think you get a sanctioned playoff system
since then, the NCAA would be involved with any TV contract
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Other than cable providers, I’m not sure who’s going to get rich in a playoff system. I still think a true (fair) playoff requires the complete killing of all bowl games (with the exception of 1 neutral site championship game like the Super Bowl of college football) which means local economies lose out on travel money. As BH says, you’d have the NCAA negotiating the TV contract so it’s not like the Arkansas State’s of the world are goign to see a big wind-fall there. I just don’t think the economics behind a playoff are as big as you think (if they were, they would have done it by now.)
Michael White - January 10, 2012
You could play playoff games at major bowl sites. Could even have the higher seeded teams pick the site of the game (of the available sites that round) if having a regional team in each stadium is a big deal. All the other bowls would go on as normal since they are nothing more than exhibition games as it is now.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
We’ve been down this road before, but my contention is that wouldn’t work because fans (not to mention students of these schools) can’t afford to go to two neutral site games, particularly since travel would have to be booked on short notice (assuming you wouldn’t have 2 months of down time to make travel arrangements like you do now.) They might try something like this for a few years, but they’d ultimately scrap it once fans have to ration which game they’ll go to (do I go to the sure game, or gamble and save my money for a NCG that might not happen?)
So you lose the gate and the local revenue and all you gain is more TV revenue (even though ESPN paid out the ass for BCS rights now anyway despite it being a terrible system.)
Michael White - January 10, 2012
So make the first round of playoff games home games for the higher seeded team
then have the winners play in the bowl game.
nolander - January 10, 2012
Yeah, there are multiples solutions that are magnitudes better than what we have now or the plus one system.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
For Joe Sports fan who wants the best television experience possible, sure.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Yes, that’s how it’ll have to work (IMO.) First two rounds (I don’t want just a 4 team playoff because that’ll be the same bullshit we have now) would be at home team sites immediately after the season, and then neutral championship game (basically the Super Bowl.)
I still think there are a few problems with this. I don’t think it will result in significantly more total revenue. It will make for a great TV event but as I mentioned you lose local revenue and gate money and networks already pay top dollar to broadcast BCS games . And I do think there’s something to be said about the appeal of bowl games. If you don’t appreciate the charm of bowl games where it’s a bit more fan/alumni/student oriented vs. the corporate no-fans, luxury box experience of the Super Bowl, that’s fine, but I do appreciate it. I don’t think you need to make college football a minor league NFL.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Let's just say
you had these eight teams in your playoff (just picking AP Top 8 for illustration purposes only).
(8) Boise vs (1) Alabama
(5) Arkansas vs (4) Oregon
(6) USC vs (3) Oklahoma St.
(7) Stanford vs (2) LSU
First round bowl sites: Dallas, Tempe, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay
2nd round sites: Pasadena, Miami
Finals: New Orleans
(These rotate every year)
Alabama picks Tampa Bay to host Boise St.
LSU probably picks Dallas to host Stanford
Oklahoma State probably picks Philadelphia to host USC
Oregon picks Tempe to host Arkansas
Let’s say top seeds all win.
Alabama picks Miami to host Oregon
LSU picks Pasadena to host Oklahoma St.
LSU vs Alabama rematch at New Orleans.
Seven top bowl sites all used with most having a regional team which helps defray travel problems. Plus I think you can sell tickets to lots of these games considering how big of a deal college football is in this country. I think the TV ratings would be way higher which would more than make up for any lost ticket sales if there were.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I don’t think there’s anywhere near enough wealth to have fans/alumni/students travel to 3 venues (even if they are drivable for one of the two fan bases) and book hotels on short notice. There would be slippage where fans hedge and wait until the championship game assumign that’s a realistic goal.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
Yes, If I’m Alabama, I’m betting on round three.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Ticket agencies would have to work awful fast.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Less than one week? They can cry me a river. Play the games every 10 days if that is a problem, which I doubt.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
And USC vs. Oklahoma State would be played at 1/8 capacity at best. I doubt there’s a ton of fans of those teams who say, “yup, I’ve always wanted to watch a quarterfinals game in Philadelphia during winter time.”
Michael White - January 10, 2012
If that is a problem you play the first rounds at home sites like mentioned above/below(?). And you fill the other bowl sites with other exhibition games.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
At least it would be really neutral, neutral site, zero fans from either school. A game played in stillness, with the only noise the players struggling to breath as the cold impedes the lungs ability to produce oxygen.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Moon Bowl 2027: What Goes Up Doesn’t Necessarily Come Down
kinbote - January 10, 2012
But
the problem is that for fans of those teams, not many are going to go 3 playoff games and local fans are not going to be interested enough to fill up that stadium.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
They haven’t done it because those making the money now would have to share. What is more, 10% of $1M or 5% of $1.5M? Those in power/money don’t want to share.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
aye
nolander - January 10, 2012
ha ha
Just for fun I googled Golden Gloves Gurnee to see if I could have some fun. Two of the first four stories are TBLA stories about gold gloves.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Take that pops! Haha
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Hopefully Kershaw isn't a tough sign
No middle ground for him, IMO. It’s a either a one year deal or a 5-6 year deal.
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
As much as I love the guy, there’s probably very little upside to us locking him up this offseason vs. next. What’s he gonna do: win 30?
kinbote - January 10, 2012
he gets more expensive the closer he gets to FA?
nolander - January 10, 2012
How much more expensive could he get than right now? I think we’ll end up signing him long-term eventually, but it probably won’t matter that much financially if it’s now or next offseason. He will be paid like a Verlander and deserves to be. It’s not so much a hedge against anything bad happening but rather an excuse to save the big ticket for next year.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
at some point you stop being able to ask for a discount
and have to give him full value ala kemp
nolander - January 10, 2012
There might be a slim chance of a discount this offseason but i’m not even sure of that. I think Phil’s total years argument hold the most weight.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
I think he gains leverage the closer he gets to FA.
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
I think he has all the leverage he needs.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
not really
we have him under contract for years now. I guess you could say he is going to get paid wellenough now this year that it doesn’t matter and he can live off that for the rest of his life, but still
nolander - January 10, 2012
I agree
Michael White - January 10, 2012
The upside is the certainty that he’s here for at least two years after free agency.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I agree with this. Giving him five years now achieves that.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
The upside is to lock him in now at something close to your number (from the Dodgers’ standpoint) rather than have him win in arbitration this year and have his next two salaries after that artificially bumped because of a high starting point.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
You might get into this in your Kershaw arb article
But do you think there’s a real shot that the Dodgers work out a long term deal with CK that buys out FA years?
Michael White - January 10, 2012
JMO, after the new owner comes in, I think it is a given.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Before next season, yes. But I’m not sure it happens until the new owner gets here.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I don’t see why not. Hell if you use it as a way to avoid arbitration you could end up saving money in 2012.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Back loadin’ with Neddie C.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
got it
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Maybe the Jags should draft Brandon Weeden and have him compete with Gabbert. Low risk, high reward.
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
or they could try to get a reciever for gabbert to throw to
Gabbert was pretty terrible, but unless you get some recieving weapons, drafting brandon weeden isn’t going to accomplish squate
nolander - January 10, 2012
I tried to squate but I was unsteady and fell over
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
yo gabbert gabbert
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Trade up to get Blackmon.
Draft Weeden in the 3rd or whatever.
Done and done.
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
then suck because you didn't fill any other holes
hell that didn’t even work out for the Falcons, and the Falcons have far fewer holes then the Jags
nolander - January 10, 2012
Forget Blackmon then
How bout a good FA receiver like Vincent Jackson?
Then draft Weeden.
Done and done.
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
Nate McMillan was one of my favorite players and now he’s my favorite coach.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
because live is a curve
I could see us losing to Portland then beating the Heat and Lakers
or
I could simply see us losing all three
or
winning all three
At this point I have no idea what to expect from the Clippers who are not my own but some frankenstienian all star team coached by someone over their head.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
With the grace period over, can we freely judge Don Mattingly next season? Seems he earned a bit of a free pass this year.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
1. Nice person
2. Manages like everyone else
3. Seems to motivate some players (Kemp) others not so much (Uribe)
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
4. Gives entertaining interview responses
kinbote - January 10, 2012
5. Totally willing to kick your ass to the curb if you’re being a prick.
G.Scott - January 10, 2012
Forever to be known as Navarro’d
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
And always
Scratches his chin during interviews.
jim hitchcock (railway) - January 10, 2012
I don’t think he did here. I think we were appropriately critical when he screwed up.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
fair
I just recall with the ownership situation it seemed appropriate not to jump to too many conclusions. Still can’t believe we lost the division to Gibson.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
As long as we keep calling him
D2X
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Cardinals sign Koyie Hill. Wake up, Ned!!!
kinbote - January 10, 2012
explain it like i'm 5
nolander - January 10, 2012
Fox wants more money
mleadman - January 10, 2012
That I got
nolander - January 10, 2012
Fox threw a hail mary. About to fall incomplete.
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Without giving it much thought, I would guess that means Fox doesn’t want Frank to have any say in who the club is ultimately sold for. Not sure how that immediately advances their interests unless they think they can lean on Bud to only accept bids that would keep the existing Fox deal (no shot.)
Michael White - January 10, 2012
The only thing Fox can do is hope that their current contract stands
and that they can spend May-October convincing the new owner that they should extend their contract.
I do think that Fox remains annoyed that both MLB and McCourt teamed up their once bosom buddy and possibly forced them to show their hand (i.e. how much they will pay for the extended rights) before they have to declare.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Fox wants to touch the Dodger doll where money comes out
mleadman - January 10, 2012
"Using the doll, show the court where Fox touched you."
underdog - January 10, 2012
This is funnier
“Show me on the doll where Fox touched you”
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
no u
nolander - January 10, 2012
Reds are going for it
In serious talks with Madson, per Heyman.
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
Just replaces Cordero, a wash from 2011. They are in serious need of outfielders unless they are going to convert Frazier and Francisco into left fielders.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
RF – Bruce, CF – Stubbs, LF – Heisey
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Like I said they need a LF
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Maybe they should trade for one of ours (Rivera, Gwynn).
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Sands for Francisco might be a fair deal. We get a power hitting, defensively challenged left hand hitting 3rd baseman, they get power hitting, right hand hitting outfielder.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Wow, a man that walks half as much as Silverio didn’t think that was possible.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Roy Disney family
BasedRaiderFan - January 10, 2012
What about it?
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
This cracked me up for some reason.
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
Really kind of eerie
All of the mountain passes (including Ebbetts Pass) are still open over the Sierra. In January!
jim hitchcock (railway) - January 10, 2012
what about the Donner pass?
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Whatever you do
avoid the “veal”
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Granny sure was stringy!
jim hitchcock (railway) - January 10, 2012
True story
They put family names on the meat packages so nobody had to eat their kin.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Maybe Dave can organize a TBLA softball team hike over it next weekend. :)
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
My memory may be faulty but seeing Tahoe dry is whack
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Tioga FTMFW
I was up in Yosemite last week end, a once in a lifetime (or at least a first since 1933) that you can drive over tioga pass in Jan. I did not partake because I do not skate, but there was about 50 people skating on Tenaya lake, and an equal number walking around drinking beer.
MammothDodger - January 10, 2012
Donner rarely closes. Unless you’re, like, in a wagon train.
jim hitchcock (railway) - January 10, 2012
Timing is everything
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Avoid the shortcut
kinbote - January 10, 2012
What is baseball's salary cap
money-wise. Red Sox fans discussing the possible signing of Kuroda are stating that it would put them over the cap and they’d have to pay luxury tax. Any idea? Doesn’t seem like something we need to be worried about though.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
178 million this year, 189 from 2013-2015.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Which is doesn’t jive with what Sox fans are saying since Cots has them at 136 with 20-25 million in arb payments incoming.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Does that list deferred payments too
I know they are paying Manny around a million or so for then next decade or so.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
Cots is usually pretty bad about that stuff, at least as of now it says we’re not paying Manny.
But unless there’s some massive payment that they don’t have listed, the only way Kuroda sends them over the threshold is if they think he’ll get 15 million plus.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
You’d think Sox fans would know best just as we know our situation best
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
it is moments like these we are thankful for Eric’s payroll sheet.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I am always thankful for it.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Tebow in the Super Bowl
This would break the all-time Nielsen ratings record, amirite?
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
God would definitely tune in.
latenite - January 10, 2012
Probably
at least for the first half anyways. After Aaron Rodger’s 6th TD pass the ratings would die out.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Nope
Now maybe total households yes because there are more and more people in the U.S. But the highest rated Super Bowl all-time is 49.1 back in 1982 for 49ers vs. Bengals. In 2010, the Saints vs. Colts did a 46.4 rating and was seen by the most households in history at 53.6M.
The all-time record for a single show was for the final episode of M*A*S*H at 60.2
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
if saints vs colts got a 46.4 which was close to the record
why couldn’t a tebow vs green bay super bowl beat that and also break the record?
Brandon Lennox - January 10, 2012
Because neither of those teams single handedly saved a city from a hurricane
its a true story, espn told me so
nolander - January 10, 2012
Tebow could have if He wanted to.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
The capitalization makes the post.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
ESPN's Alabama-LSU BCS title game Monday drew 14% of U.S. households.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/01/espns-bcs-alabama-lsu-final-rating-avoids-all-time-low/1
nolander - January 10, 2012
or it wsa the worse
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/01/10/bcs-ratings.ap/index.html
Basically, fuck you BCS for giving us a shitty game.
nolander - January 10, 2012
Didn’t watch a play.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
What if we claimed Fernando Martinez?
Not a bad stash if he has options.
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
sounds like a pirate move to me..
hee came hee seop'd he choi'd - January 10, 2012
We have the 10th pick. Pirates are 5th, Houston is 1st.
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
Not pick
I mean waiver priority
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
If he actually makes it to us, it means teams with nothing to lose don’t want to bother with him. If the Astros and Pirates don’t think he’s worth taking a chance on that’s a huge warning sign.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
possibly a warning sign that their organizations suck at fielding good baseball teams
nolander - January 10, 2012
Maybe, but the Pirates have certainly never been scared to throw waiver bait in the outfield.
Martinez does have one option remaining, so I guess if he does get to us why the hell not?
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Easy DFAs: Troncoso, Oeltjen, Mitchell
silverwidow - January 10, 2012
Amazing that the Aussie might be toughest loss from that group.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
arthritic knee’s
If a team like the Met’s can’t even find a place for him then why bother
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Yeah that’s my main concern.
He’s still only 23 and had decent numbers in the IL last year.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
I want
I’ve wanted for a long time.
Ivdown - January 10, 2012
Finally saw Moneyball
I’ve seen sports guys critique it for not depicting that world accurately, but god damn on an emotional level that movie was fantastic.
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Me! That was me who critiqued it for not depicting that world accurately!
but it was good regardless.
nolander - January 10, 2012
is it just me or is this a thin field for best picture this year?
compared to last year at least
nolander - January 10, 2012
Don’t know why but it bothered me greatly that a film like Hugo was ignored but pap like Arthur and Chipmunks roll in the money. What is the incentive to make a quality movie.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Arthur got good reviews
nolander - January 10, 2012
to sell DVDs after the Oscars, mostly
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Chipmunks was good. Millions of little kids wanted to see it. I took two of them. Not sure who took the others. Might want to put the kids movies in another category.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
I think he is thinking of hugo as a kids movie
although my bro told me it wasn’t really a kids movie, it just happened to have kids in it. There is a fine line between family movie and kid movie I think.
nolander - January 10, 2012
The worst is Devil Inside made 33.3 million
and apparently is just terribly awfully irredeemably bad.
nolander - January 10, 2012
Yes, that is more my point. That POS that the public yearns for is what they will get.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
My six-year old son is loving the Toy Story trilogy btw. Broke down and recorded them after he saw part of 3 at school. I agree with Humma that 2 is technically stunning.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
I’m honored that a six year and myself have something in common
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
He’s bright :)
kinbote - January 10, 2012
The Artist (haven’t seen)
The Descendants (want to see)
Tree of Life (haven’t seen)
The Help
Hugo (want to see with clock-obsessed son)
Midnight in Paris (?)
War Horse (?)
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Saw all but War Horse and Tree of Life. All good, none great.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
Saw none of them. Enjoyed Dragon Tattoo and wanted to see Taking Shelter very much. Can’t believe Descendants can approach Sideways heights [widths?].
kinbote - January 10, 2012
I liked the american version of dragon more then the swedish version
better adaptation of the book imho.
nolander - January 10, 2012
and I hate to piss everyone off
but I prefer to hear not read the dialogue.
nolander - January 10, 2012
I like doing both. I would not mind seeing the dialoge while watching some foreign English movies (Irish, Scottish, English) always takes me a few minutes to get in synch.
I like the sound of other languages.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I'm ok with reading dialogue for some movies
its just not my preffered way. I watched the American version of let the right one in because I was feeling too lazy to read at the time.
nolander - January 10, 2012
I don’t believe this is true, every day you try to piss someone off.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
hm
nolander - January 10, 2012
I liked them both though I really don’t need to see a rape scene to know a rape scene happened. If I was home I’d simply have fast forwarded through it.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
I get that they want to make more money
but the title The Men Who Hate Women at least gives people an idea that the movie might be a bit… unsavory.
nolander - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise the female form! I hate those kinds of scenes for several reasons.
David Young - January 10, 2012
as for bullet point 3...
from my brain to your fingers.
nolander - January 10, 2012
it's not as good as Sideways
but is good nonetheless. Neither comes close to Election, which I think is damn near a masterpiece
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Really? I have only seen parts of that here and there. Might have to watch the whole thing some day.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
its pretty funny
nolander - January 10, 2012
The Reece Witherspoon movie?
Michael White - January 10, 2012
NO
the broderick movie. yes.
nolander - January 10, 2012
they are all by the same director
nolander - January 10, 2012
I thought Election was average at best. Liked Sideways a lot more.
Michael White - January 10, 2012
with Broderick?
nolander - January 10, 2012
Enjoyed Election. Sometimes get it conflated in my head with Rushmore. About Schmidt is by Payne too.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Family wants to take me out to dinner
for my birthday this weekend. Where should I go?
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Strip club. They have a surprisingly good buffet.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
Awesome
my 62 year old sister will enjoy it
mleadman - January 10, 2012
Lawry’s?
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
Always a good choice for nice but ultimately non offensive.
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
Chipotle
nolander - January 10, 2012
Houston’s
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
I was choosing between Houston's and Ruth Chris for my anniversary
and then somehow we ended up at the Melting Pot
nolander - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise wives!
You know what the somehow was, she chose. And Ruth’s Chris is better than Houston’s, though more expensive. That said, I’ve only eaten at Ruth’s Chris because I was given a gift card from there; we used it at a Vegas location.
David Young - January 10, 2012
yeah I was trying to decide if it was worth it for us to spend the extra to go to ruth's chris
and the wife was onboard with steak, but then she took a left turn the morning of
nolander - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise cattle! What is the great steak place you have raved about a couple times that sounded so good? Go there.
Speaking of old men, we are taking mine out for dinner this weekend too.
David Young - January 10, 2012
Sotto
on Pico in West LA.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
sotto
is on my short list of restaurants to visit
G.Scott - January 10, 2012 via Android app
Joe’s house. Bring some TJ’s wine.
Xeifrank - January 10, 2012
Fish Company in Santa Monica is always good.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
Consider the source and the idea that Kuroda would hesitate on 1/15.5 but what else is there to talk about?
regfairfield - January 10, 2012
he’s holding out for the red sox! :)
G.Scott - January 10, 2012 via Android app
First reaction: Holy
Second reaction: Shit
Why not though, especially for the safety of a one-year deal. Probably could get two out of ’em.
kinbote - January 10, 2012
he will be their
No.2
funkyjam - January 10, 2012
reply fail
funkyjam - January 10, 2012
In other news
L.A. City Coucil votes to require condoms in porn filming
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
First and foremost let me praise Pasteur and Koch!
I suspect this will be unenforceable if not legally, then due to lack of funding. As the article says, the similar state law is already not enforced.
David Young - January 10, 2012
David owns this thread like no one has ever owned a TBLA thread.
Phil Gurnee - January 10, 2012
First and foremost, let me praise praise!
David Young - January 10, 2012
For those that love Trading Spaces
and who doesn’t, the price of Orange Juice on the commodities market skyrocketed after tainted foreign orange juice was found in two brands.
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
how dare you
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
how dare I like Trading Spaces?
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
oh, my bad. tired eyes
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
:)
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
Lots of great lines in that movie
Billy Ray: No thanks, guys, I already had breakfast this morning.
Mortimer Duke: This is not a meal, Valentine. We are here to TRY to explain to you what is we do here.
Randolph Duke: We are ‘commodities brokers’, William. Now, what are commodities? Commodities are agricultural products… like coffee that you had for breakfast… wheat, which is used to make bread… pork bellies, which is used to make bacon, which you might find in a ‘bacon and lettuce and tomato’ sandwich.
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
oh so you a bunch of bookies
hee came hee seop'd he choi'd - January 10, 2012
common phrase between my family members
“Looking good Billy Ray!”
“Feeling good Louis!”
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012
might need a new thread soon
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012
Some daylight
Shaikin:
berkowit28 - January 10, 2012
Our long, local nightmare is over.
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
hahaha
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012
that deal
ends after this season right?
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012
Nope
2013.
The deal that ends in fall 2012 is the exclusivity to Fox to negotiate future rights beyond 2013 season. What Fox didn’t want to do was tip their hand to another competitor before working with new owner to sweeten deal (and I think include an immediate raise to 2013 rates if they agreed to extend now).
bhsportsguy - January 10, 2012
so Dodgers will do the auction thing in Spring, Fox has exclusive window to negotiate new contract through season, after that, TW can swoop in and pay billions for Dodger TV rights
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
unless they buy the team for $1.2 billion instead of paying 4billion for tv rights only
G.Scott - January 10, 2012 via Android app
IIRC, it’s because Fox owned the team that the Dodgers have their current under market value contract?
Josie Becker - January 10, 2012
yes ma'am
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012
not how it works
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
thanks
Tommy Blackjack - January 10, 2012
new post
http://www.truebluela.com/2012/1/10/2698567/dodgers-fox-bankruptcy-tv-contract-2013
Eric Stephen - January 10, 2012
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