True Blue LA

wow you outdid yourself this year

so much info in there and a very useful document

Brandon Lennox - January 28, 2012 reply

Thanks guys

Dodgerblue8188 - January 28, 2012 reply

Happy Valentine's Day

Kershaw’s arbitration hearing is set for February 14, per Tony Jackson

Prediction: I think a deal gets done before my brother Greg’s birthday.

You mean the brother who didn’t realize Springsteen tix went on sale for his area Friday?

KellyStephen - January 29, 2012 reply

I forgot who asked about salary arbitration in the last few days

But the last time the Dodgers went to a hearing and lost was in 2001. Relief pitcher Terry Adams had a 3.52 ERA in 84 innings in 2000, and sought a raise from his $1.4 million salary. Adams asked for $2.6 million, the Dodgers offered $1.95 million, and Adams won.

Since 2000, the Dodgers have only participated in 3 arbitration hearings:

Adams (2002), L (final year before free agency for Adams)
Gagne (2004), W (Gagne asked for $8 million in his first year of arb, got $5 million)
Beimel (2007), W (asked for $1.25 million, got $912,500)

That should say “Adams (2001)…”

One of the things I happened to read either this weekend or last week noted that in 2013 the regular season will go back to ending on a Sunday, in part to give time for the extra wild card playoff. This season, like 2011, will end on a Wednesday.

[x]

Kevin Kaduk of Yahoo’s Big League Stew just tweeted that his dad found a box of old Sports Illustrated magazines in the basement. Love one of the two on top:

SI used to be so colorful.

I

Subscribed to SI for probably 15+ years, beginning in 70s, through the 80s and into the 90s

bhsportsguy - January 29, 2012 via iPhone app reply

I’ve never subscribed to a magazine as an adult.

I remember getting Soccer Jr. and Zoo Books as a kid, though.

I subscribed in the 60's

When you had to wait a week for almost any sports news that was outside LA. Every week was the Helms man visit to the block and the SI coming in the mail.

mleadman - January 29, 2012 reply

I loved SI so much for so long, that I still subscribe

and it is still better than the trash called ESPN the Mag, but it is a shell of what it once was

I think for SI, they should go deeper, write better, be the anti-internet, rather than try to write lighter, write shorter, and be more like the internet

I miss SI

I miss The Sporting News. BEFORE they decided to cover all sports. I also loved The National. They hired the best sportswriters in the country, and had everything about baseball. They offerred Jim Murray $1 M/year, but he turned them down. Somewhere, I read the whole story of the National, from the start-up to the last day. Very, very interesting.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6629257/the-national-oral-history

Huh! Maybe it was here!

BA Top 30 Dodger list

Check out BH’s fanpost in case you missed it. Definitely some interesting rankings (like Scott Barlow, who doesn’t get pimped at all).

silverwidow - January 29, 2012 via mobile reply

BA 2015 lineup

Which may have already been posted:

C – Federowicz
1B – Sands
2B – DeJesus
3B – Alex Santana
SS – Gordon
LF – Pederson
CF – Kemp
RF – Silverio

SP – Kershaw, Lee, Billingsley, Webster, Eovaldi
RP – Jansen

bhsportsguy - January 29, 2012 via iPhone app reply

That would be a lousy team

lice just everywhere, especially on Pederson….replacing my Andre, how dare he?

Silverio replaced Andre

Might even do it this year if they don’t compete in the 1st half

At least I’d still have my Matty. Mmm, Matt Kemp.

You cannot kill the De Jesus

wonder how many years now DeJesus has been on that list. 6?

He was the projected 2012 starting SS in 2009. Not in previous books.

Comeback kid

seems like he’s been there forever. I think it speaks to our lack of depth there more than BA being infatuated with him or anything

Yes, cultivating 2nd baseman from the myriad of college and high school infielders has not been a Logan White strength.

This would be the link that SW mentions
http://www.truebluela.com/2012/1/27/2753910/it-is-time-to-play-name-the-ba-top-30

wow and it’s still January

A Belisario sighting already?

Brandon Lennox - January 29, 2012 reply

Saw that. Awesome.

he was there taking pictures, asking for autographs.

using the name “Fausto Carmona”

Rec’d for possibility.

Lakers did not turn the corner on the road yesterday. I think it might be safe to say the Lakers have never had the worst road record in basketball on Jan 29th.

Including this year

I am sufficiently worried, per our conversation last Sunday. 18-17 looking more and more likely.

7 of next 8 on the road. They have beaten Minnesota 15 straight times, including 7 straight in Minneapolis, but the T-Wolves are playing better right now.

Tough tests ahead for both teams with the Grammy trips. Clippers play 8 of next 10 on road, including tonight in Denver, where they have lost 9 straight. Clippers only 2 home games in their next 10 happen to be against the teams with the best two records in the Western Conference (OKC & Denver).

Yeah, by the time both road trips are down, both teams could be ranked 9 and 10 but at least one will be playoff eligible. They will both need to make up some ground in March.

Losing to Bucks while at full strength against that team is a bit in-excusable.

I want to call it their most exasperating loss of the season, but that I can’t definitively say that tells you all you need to know about this Lakers season.

wasn’t Bogut out too?

Mad and I went downstairs to the bar to watch it and it looked like Milwaukee couldn’t miss a shot if they tried.

Also

that bar does live band 80’s karaoke every Wednesday apparently

Yeah Bogut is out 2-3 months with a broken ankle. Stephen Jackson was suspended for berating a ref Friday.

Jackson is probably more useful to the team when he’s not allowed in the building

Unless something changed recently, Stephen Jackson was a good basketball player

Yep

thought he was a prick of a person though

Went to a corporate party last night

at The Figueroa Hotel downtown. 30 years ago it was a dump, but someone fixed it up to its past glory and restored it to it’s Turkish motif splendor. The party had a live camel to take a picture with, mimes on stilts, belly dancers, snake charmers, mermaids and fire dancers. It was a hoot.

mleadman - January 29, 2012 reply

Marty, the MPAA called, they want you to return your belly dancer costume and give Humma back his stilts.

Those stilts aren’t mine. He said “mimes on stilts,” not midgets, and I never shut up.

Humma Kavula - January 29, 2012 reply

rec

The one next to Staples?

yeah, where the big murals get painted

mleadman - January 29, 2012 reply

There is a building across the street from there(East Side of Figgy) that is for sales. It has quite a history, oh the possibilities.

sounds awesome

Sounds like a place Stefon would recommend on Weekend Update.

Nolij - January 29, 2012 reply

Did not check but ESPN told me last night they had the worse road record in the league.

I see ESPN was wrong.
Lakers 1 – 7 but Pistons are 1 – 9 and Bullets 1 – 8.

http://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-clippers/2012/1/29/2755897/2012-nba-standings-los-angeles-clippers-pacific-division

Worst road records in NBA:
25 LA Clippers 1-4 .200
26 Sacramento 2-10 .167
27 LA Lakers 1-7 .125
28 Washington 1-8 .111
29 Detroit 1-9 .100
30 Charlotte 1-10 .091

the Wizards were winless on the road until beating Charlotte last night.

I think it might be safe to say the Lakers have never had the worst road record in the Western Division on Jan 29th:)

Haha

Jim

Buss doesn’t have Phil to fall back on this time

bhsportsguy - January 29, 2012 via iPhone app reply

The not scoring 100 points streak being the longest since god knows when is amazing.

Watching Mike Brown coach offense is like watching Helen Keller try to speak.

I bet you can’t wait for the GIlbert Arenas era to begin

Hell, he can’t be any worse than 4 through 12 on the current depth chart.

I can’t wait to see him and Kobe share a basketball

Not really an issue

They bring him in for not much money at all, and if he works out, great, they might have another human who knows how to put the ball in the hoop. If he doesn’t work out, then he’d be gone.

Just saying when Arenas and Kobe are in the game, Pau, Andrew, and sputniks better hope they get an offensive rebound.

Would be better than the offense they are currently running.

How long a deal did Jimmy give Mr. Brown?

reported at $18mil/4years

sorry

$4.5mil per year for 3 years, option for a 4th year at $4.5mil, so maximum 18/4

Early but I doubt he sees that option year

i have the feeling options get declined more often than they get accepted. mostly, i get the feeling option decisions turn into either firings or extensions.

ESPN is not to be watched except for live sports or documentaries :)

+4000

+6976

The Cleveland Plain Dealer had a feature on local television contracts and their impact on MLB teams.

The Brewers get a reported $12 million per year from Fox Sports Wisconsin. Ouch.

I was told a million times that the Milwaukee area is not a small market. I guess it depends on the sport. Baseball small market, football big big big market.

No

It’s just that it doesn’t really matter in the NFL since there is no such thing as the local TV market, in that there are no local TV contracts, only national ones that are split evenly among 32 teams.

Currently

Each NFL team receives in the neighborhood of 36-38M per year. By the end of their next dea, it will get closer to 60M per team.

bhsportsguy - January 29, 2012 reply

no leverage

only baseball team and only RSN, and Brewers only get average ratings.

All this talk of downtown

with the price of coffee at Phillipe’s about to go up from 10 cents to 50 cents, I think I’ll have lunch there tomorrow

I am thinking about seeing

The Boss when he comes out to LA this spring.

bhsportsguy - January 29, 2012 reply

learned this at an Aerosmith concert

old rockers make me feel roll

er old

Kevin Goldstein's Baseball Prospectus Top 11 Dodger Prospect comes out tomorrow.

His breakdown is 8 pitchers and 3 position players (he wanted to add a 4th position player).

Any guesses on his 11 players.

bhsportsguy - January 29, 2012 reply

Lee
Gould
Webster
Baldwin
Silverio
WIthrow
Eovaldi (if he’s still a prospect)
Reed
Pederson
Garcia
Sanchez

If Baldwin or Garcia is not in there, he will be replaced with Van Slyke, but I doubt it.

This isn't the order btw, just the names I think will be on there

Where’s Tolleson?

VeroJoe - January 30, 2012 reply

slipped my mind

Problem is i don’t know who i’d take out for him.

One of the hitters.

You listed 4, not 3.

Taylor Maricle - January 30, 2012 reply

Guesses

Lee
Webster
Eovaldi
Silverio
Reed
Withrow
Pederson
Sanchez
Castellanos
Miller
Tolleson

April schedule provides chance for a hot start. First 16 games against SD (7), Pitts (3), Mil w/o Fielder and probably w/o Braun (3), Hou (3).

13-3, and never looking back!

Trying hard to forget 2007 as I try to be optimistic.

Hard to forget 2005

14-1 start was it?

12-2

then 59-89 the rest of the way.

Oh yeah

Ceasar Izturis hit crazy good his first 2 months of that season, then fell off the biggest cliff I can remember. Valentine was awesome his first 2 weeks, then never heard from again. So many bad memories.

I seem to remember Valentin blowing out a knee in a home plate collision. San Diego, maybe?

Looks like it was against the Nationals on May 3 in the bottom of the fifth. Valentin scored on a double by Jason Phillips [no, he didn’t start at 1B this game :) ].

Valentin missed the next 78 games.

Dodgers go to 17-9 with that win.

That Valentin loss was devastating :)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=izturce01&t=b&year=2005&share=3.01#499-550-sum:batting_gamelogs

Could you ever imagine Ceasar Izturis would hit .345/.392/.426 through JUNE 1st???

That’s All-Star Cesar Izturis to you.

It tickles me that i looked up Izturis on bbreference

and of the two brothers he is the all-star between them :)

Looking at the '04 off season

Two transactions stuck out that probably didn’t draw anyone’s interest.

Joakim Soria released
Kelley Jansen signed

Finger failure

Kenley

Thanks

Thats the year I meant.

Eric, I forget what your prediction for last year was. 19-6? 18-5? Something like that.

Watching an old DVD

with this quote…

“I know you’re proud of ‘em. You can’t be more proud of ‘em than I am. There aren’t anymore people in this world who deserve a world championship again more than the people in Inglewood here. I’m guaranteeing everybody here, next year we’re going to win it again.”

Pat Riley during the ’87 championship celebration?

Speaking of next year's free agent market being limited

Zack Greinke is already talking extension with Milwaukee:

“Everything feels really good at the stadium and stuff, the team is great, and I love the whole coaching staff and front office, too,” Greinke said. “The owner [Mark Attanasio] is probably the best owner in baseball, maybe. He’s incredible.”

Nothing concrete obviously, but the seeds are planted.

damn

He’s the one I really wanted.

Hamels>Cain>Greinke

A pitcher with tangible mental health issues, who just lost an MPH off his fastball and has posted league average ERA’s the past two years is generally not the top starter on the market.

Dude you aren't even listening when I talk about Greinke

Don’t look at ERA or ERA+, it’s really useless as far as comparing the 3.

A little lukewarm on Greinke

ERA plus the last two years of 100 and 102, although he had a great K rate in 2011. Depends on the contract.

LOL ERA

ERA PLUS

is based on era

so it still sucks

OK, you win

I am slow to embrace advanced metrics. Heck, it took me awhile to start using era plus :). His xFIP, which I am just starting to understand, was great in 2011.

:)

his peripherals where good. As I understand it all ERA+ does is normalize for park factors

And league rates.

Peripherals on their own aren’t the be-all-end-all.

Greinke is one of the few pitchers that tries to lower his FIP. He will avoid walking batters whenever possible, which would explain why his peripherals are all below his ERA on his career as he might be more likely to groove a 3-0 pitch, etc.

If you don't to go off really advanced ones

Just look at his high strike out rate and low walk rate. His home run rate was kinda high this year, but I think it could go down.

he was in milwakee tho

That's true

Though his HR/FB% almost doubled his career average this year, I’m not sure that will hold, though it should be higher in Milwaukee.

Trust me, check his other numbers

I really wish ERA+ would go away

Context context context. Until we can totally isolate a pitcher from his defense there won’t be one true pitching stat so we need lots of them.

ERA+ has its place and if Greinke massively underpitches his peripherals again this year you should at least consider it.

regfairfield - January 29, 2012 reply

Well answer this if you will:

Do you think Greinke is a league average pitcher the last 2 years?

Also, aren't you a fan of Sierra?

His 2011 Sierra is 2.66.
His tERA is 3.54.

It’s worth noting. His tERA being so high means people were crushing the ball more often than his FIP would indicate.

Greinke isn’t league average by any means but massively under pitching your perhiperals two years in a row is a warning sign.

regfairfield - January 30, 2012 reply

Didn't milwakee have like... the worst D in baseball last year?

nolander - January 30, 2012 reply

The “best owner in baseball” who saw his co-best player walk away without a real effort to keep him and his other co-best player get raked over the coals in the press with little more than the expected nominal show of support. But he took Z to a titty bar once, so he’s the best!

Nolij - January 29, 2012 reply

They had to choose between keeping Braun or keeping Fielder. They chose Braun. After making that choice Braun decided to make the team look bad by going out and getting busted for using PED’s. I don’t fault Attanasio for either of those decisions.

yeah pretty much

its hard to afford two guys like Fielder and Braun at the same time.

Especially in that market.

Corey Hart, Ricky Weeks, Aramis Ramirez they will miss that big LH bat. Maybe we can trade them Ethier at the break ;)

the amount of money they receive from television would have paid for prince fielder from February to June.

(Sigh)

Jeff Nelson on xm MLB radio talking about concerns about Kuroda’s make-up pitching in NY. Says he may not be able to handle it. “Much easier pitching on west cost then east coast”, blah blah blah.

I do not remember hearing any comments about Hiro being anything less than tough and wanting the ball in big games.

So Lingerie Football is actually legit?

The announcers make it seem like it.

Joey Joe - January 29, 2012 reply

I've heard they actually play hard and don't completely suck

its on MTV2 right now

These girls hit pretty hard and all they are wearing for protection are small helmets and shoulder pads.

there’s been a couple tackles where the panties come off but MTV attempts to edit it

Joey Joe - January 29, 2012 reply

no comment

NBA officials just did their best to try and ruin a very good game between the Bulls and Heat.

The Bulls and Heat tried to ruin it too

Rose and James missing their free throws and the Bulls inability to hold on to the ball was bad.

Apparently Oswalt is seeking $10 mil from the Cardinals and not the $5 mil previously reported.

BUM BUM BUM

dramatic

reverb

Vancouver Canadians

I had no idea they played minor league baseball in Canada until now.

you’re fired

The fans at the Pro Bowl don’t seem too happy right now. The lack of effort being shown on the field is probably the worst I’ve seen.

As I’m typing this Fitzgerald puts in some good effort to score a TD. At least someone showed up.

if I was getting paid $50k to be there, I’d probably try a bit harder

Even if trying hard could cost you millions in the future?

regfairfield - January 29, 2012 reply

no sure, the $50k is just an appearance fee. But still, people it stands, have some fun, y’know?

or a bonus for being awesome

there are rules against trying hard

Apparently no rules against playing stupid though.

playing stupid is integral to the game of football

Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshal and AJ Green have now earned their $50k. They looked like they were playing in a real game on all of their TD’s.

Too bad Brandon doesn't play like that in many games that actually are real/do matter...

underdog - January 29, 2012 reply

TD, onside kick, TD. 3 fun plays in a row!

Lakers on pace to break 100 points tonight. Can they do it? Probably not.

they did it! Hooray!

dwight howard is in dgf mode

4-15 on free throws tonight
20 point loss

Joey Joe - January 29, 2012 reply

His 24 points (10-13 shooting) and 13 rebounds say otherwise. He’s working his ass off and doing everything he can to try and carry that team. The rest of that team just really sucks. In 2 of their last 4 losses only 1 guy made more than 2 shots (Redick was 3 for 5 in one of the games).

yeah

Howard’s never been a good FT shooter

Office spinoff

Something is in the works featuring Dwight and it’ll be based at Schrute Farms.

Sounds like a disaster to me but I’m sure some will like it.

so the office will be canceled then?

Not sure

but it might as well be.

Hey,

they can stick Community in it’s time slot then.

Can’t have too much Mose because Michael Schur is off writing Parks and Rec.

And if there is no Mose, what’s the point?

made it exciting (or aggrivating)

but Lakers win, Yay.

It was nearly wall-punching time. But whew.

you named a kitten Wall?

Got it a Wizards jersey and everything!

lol

Lebron looked great today. Rose too.

my aunt

gave me a bunch of dodger stuff recently:

1985 and 1986 media guides AND team yearbooks
a scrapbook full of ticket stubs and pictures and the most complete collection of newspaper clippings on Jack Fimple (yes, this guy: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fimplja01.shtml)
and a cool collection of Unical pins

mintxcore - January 29, 2012 reply

My great uncle gave me his ticket stubs from when he went to the very first game at Dodger Stadium.

That is sweet. Bring the media guides and/or yearbooks to the next TBLA event you attend, if you can. That would be cool.

i will!

are you gonna be at softball? she also gave me some ohter odd dodger books, including one simply called “SAX!”

mintxcore - January 29, 2012 reply

Fimple Fever, catch it!

Nolij - January 29, 2012 reply

I have a feeling he had a nickname in elementary school that was not very nice.

I just realized Chael Sonnen went to University of Oregon.

Bob Nigtengale tweet

There are at least 5 major groups left in #dodger bidding and all have submitted bids for at least $1.5 billion #mlb

I’m waiting until the last possible second to follow our ownership derby.

If 1.5 is true then Frank ended up doing just fine. Wonder what his plans are?

two chicks at once

wasn’t that a beach boys song?

close

2 Live Crew

Pure Azure - January 29, 2012 via Android app reply

Luck

Good things: horses, horseracing scenes, Sigur Ros, Nick Nolte

Bad things: Bill Plaschke

Pure Azure - January 29, 2012 via Android app reply

This is not meant as a reply. ARGH.

Pure Azure - January 29, 2012 via Android app reply

Two Girls For Every Guy. Which is probably the Beach Boys equivalent.

Xeifrank - January 29, 2012 reply

I know – was joking

Hollywood Joe - January 30, 2012 reply

does his wife get half – or did she take the houses and the bodyguard?

Xeifrank - January 29, 2012 reply

I think she just gets the money they agreed on

and the houses and bodygaurd

Hell of a home coming for old man Billups tonight.

Was not very aware his high school past until tonight. Kind of cool the best high school basketball player in the history of Colorado stayed home.

Did not think he still had a game like that still in him.

Lakers did a nice job regrouping after blowing the 18 point lead. Rubio sure be fun to watch

Simers article on Ethier

link

But first, Ethier will have to overcome Ethier and his relentless insecurity. He began last season telling the media he might be released, and finished saying the team was making him play even though he said he was injured.

When challenged by management, he changed his whine. But his teammates wrote him off as being selfish, many turning away from him.

never heard of him

JLS23 - January 29, 2012 reply

That was incredibly badly written.

Something new for Simers?

Luck be a lady tonight

Is that show any good? Haven’t seen it yet.

premiered tonight