Welcome to Dodger Stadium Mr. Young. He joins the team to replace Betemit. Young, 25, a member of the 2001 Riverside Community College state championship team, is hitting .343 with 44 doubles, 16 home runs and 79 RBI in 101 games for the Stars.Diamond also adds the follow quote from Ned Colletti.
"It was the most unbalanced market I've seen," Colletti said. "The asking prices far exceeded the player."Story Link#1: Diamond Leung:
The Dodgers already are tweaking the Giants, scheduling a "steroid awareness clinic" before Thursday's game. And if Bonds hasn't hit a home run by the end of that evening, it's on to San Diego, the land of the giant syringe.Wow. I hadn't heard of this. There should be national referendum requiring steroid awareness clinics in every city Bonds and the Giants play this year.
"Our plan in the event of a home run is to acknowledge the home run's significance on DodgerVision and allow Barry to tip his cap and be acknowledged by the crowd."Dodger spokesman Josh Rawitch made a funny. I'm sure the Dodger fanbase will express their gratitude.
For a guy who was so officially retired, he threw out the first pitch on opening day in L.A. of Anaheim, Percival sure has pitched well since the Cardinals signed him (3.07 ERA, .212 opponent average, 15 whiffs in 14 2/3 IP). But here's a development even more surprising: The Cardinals have been offering him around over the last 24 hours. And there have been rumblings Tuesday that the Dodgers were actively exploring bringing Percival back to Southern California -- in this case, Los Angeles of Los Angeles -- for a mid-level prospect. Could be a name to watch as the deadline approaches.Story Link: ESPN:
"These are 55,000 fans ... who'd be fortunate enough to be a part of history. So be a part of history and make it the great moment that it is. Don't tarnish it by acts of cruelty or whatever. Be above that.In a previous LA Times article over a year ago Vinny stated thusly.
“I would just as soon it not happen against the Dodgers,” Scully said. “With Aaron, it was a privilege to be there when he did it. It was just a great moment. With Bonds, no matter what happens now, it will be an awkward moment. That’s the best word I can think of now. If I had my druthers, I would rather have that awkward moment happen to somebody else.”Hat Tip: LGK:
"The Dodgers and Yankees have agreed in principle on a trade that would send reliever Scott Proctor to the Dodgers for infielder Wilson Betemit."I can't help but feel that we got burned on this one. Sure, Betemit has been pretty dismal at the plate, but his ceiling appears to be high and he is OPS is at .834. Of course, he has been talked about in glowing terms for a long time and that shining star everyone thought he was has yet to fully brighten the sky. This may very well be a trade that helps solidify our bullpen while, at the same time, won't give us heartburn at the sight of Betemit. Maybe he is at his ceiling right now.
"Proctor is 2-5 with a 3.81 ERA, and his 54 1/3 innings out of the Yankees' bullpen are tied for fourth-most among AL relievers."Story Link: ESPN:
The Dodgers and Athletics have been talking about a package of three frontline prospects for Blanton, and on Monday night, they were in the process of mixing and matching possible combinations. Blanton makes just $380,000 this year, and will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. Teams rarely trade young and cheap and established starting pitchers in the current market, which explains why Oakland is asking for a high price in return for Blanton.I hope Kershaw is not a part of a potential deal.
With all due respect Dave, your a fool if you think the rivalry will not trump Barry's pursuit for the record. Our fans will boo and berate Barry like they always do. Why would you expect anything different? After all, didn't we hear boo's when Russell Martin was introduced during the All-Star game? The rivalry runs deep, and you should know that.
On an aside, I don't know if i care much about him breaking the record. History will judge him in the future regardless of my beliefs. All I know is that "I Hate the Giants" and Barry is a perfect representation of why "I Hate the Giants."
"To say they’ll give up young players like myself or Kemp for a one-year (upgrade), I guess it depends on what their motives are. If they feel that this is the year that they have to get something done and they want to make the push, that’s their choice and their decision to make. … We’re an important ingredient to what we’re doing here, but at the same time we’re a commodity and can be traded freely."It would not even be for a full year. There is only about 2 months left in the season. So, if we trade this guy, or Loney, or Kemp for a 2 month rental I will go bonkers. Teixeira will not help us here, and there is no possibility of signing a long-term contract with that guy. Boras is his agent.
(This is the bat Ruth used to hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium. Rank #4.)The television rights to broadcast NFL games are the most lucrative and expensive rights of any sport.
(Above is the first home run ball ever hit in an All-Star Game. Of course, Ruth was the man who did it. Rank #6)
(Above is "Black Betsy." Shoeless Joe Jackson's famous bat. Ranked #10.)
Kent hit a ball Jackie Gleason would be proud of. "Bang, zoom, straight to the moon!"It was unclear why he was removed, but he was visibly upset as he stalked off the field and he threw his glove the length of the dugout after he got there.DJ Houlton pitched well in his 2 innings, but ultimately took the loss as he gave up the tee shot to Carlos Lee. Beimel and Roberto pitched well in their inning of work.
With all the hoopla surrounding the home run record, apparently the owners of his 715th home run ball believe that now is the best time to sell. On eBay, right now, you can bid on the ball that surpassed the great Babe Ruth. Sports Collectors Daily reports that the minimum reserve amount is $375,000.00. Considering it sold last year for $222,000.00, that's not a bad profit. Of course, I have my doubts it will sell at all.Symbolic Collection Vice President Rovert Rios doesn't believe the lingering resentment toward Bonds will matter. "Last year, there was a swirl of allegations that had kept many bidders from jumping into the competition for the ball. I believe when the dust settles, Bonds will rightfully be judged as the greatest home run hitter of all time.Has the dust settled yet? I'm figure he will receive the Alex Popov treatment.
Reminiscent of the infamous Disco Demolition over 25 years ago (without the attendant stampede and chaos), the Armada will destroy all Michael Vick jerseys in protest to the inhumane treatment of animals.Since we are on the topic of dogs I want to give Rob from 6-4-2 a hearty thanks for being so attentive and loving to his friend, Foley. As Orel in the comments section said, "that's one lucky dog."
Dog Day Link:
Baseball Prospectus Link:16. Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers, 19
Despite some occasional inconsistencies, Kershaw still sports a 2.12 ERA and twice as many strikeouts (102) than hits allowed (50) while showing the kind of stuff that scouts see out of teenage left-handers once in a generation.
20. Andy LaRoche, 3B, Dodgers, 23He was doing little at Triple-A, and struggled in big league debut before heading to DL with shoulder problems. A reason for optimism is that he’s 12-for-30 with 23 total bases since returning to the lineup.
32. Scott Elbert, LHP, Dodgers, 21
Three starts with 24 strikeouts in 14 innings at Double-A Jacksonville and then shoulder soreness that required time on the DL before Elbert finally underwent arthroscopic surgery. It seems like all they did was clean out some scar tissue, and we won’t really know where the stuff is until he takes the mound next year.
54. James Loney, 1B/OF, Dodgers, 23
After not making the big league squad out of spring training, Loney’s .279/.345/.382 line at Triple-A Las Vegas was chalked up to a case of big league-itis. Finally returned to the majors, he’s at .385/.442/.603 in 78 at-bats, with the Dodgers finally coming around to the fact that he needs to be in the lineup on a daily basis.
It's amazing the amount of fake memorabilia that ends up on eBay. It's even more amazing the number of obvious fake items that people try to peddle; like the reprint of a 1912 T207 Baseball card above. Luckily, that shoulder responded well to a cortisone injection. Wolf reports that the spike removed most of the pain—most, not all, which is a key takeaway. Wolf should be back for his next start, and he may well look good, but over the longer term, the quick fix and incomplete cure has to worry the Dodgers. Don't be surprised if he needs another cortisone shot before the season ends.Story Link: Under the Knife:
Another items of note is memorabilia from the great Max Patkin, The Clown Prince of Baseball. Below is his original uniform. 
Check out a video from ABC news about the auction here."When you approach a player," said Jeff Idelson, the Hall's vice president for communications and education, "they are stunned you are showing up at their locker."
In the Times Union piece both Lowe and Eckstein are highlighted.
Eckstein was just as shocked, if not more than Lowe."The Hall of Fame would like to have your jersey," Horn told him in the visitor's dugout tunnel.
Lowe returned moments later with a man and woman.
"These are my parents," he said. "Tell them exactly what you told me."
Story Link: TimesUnion.com:
Yhea, OK. About Koufax he adds.
Well, those are all good points. I guess you could count me in as a fan who refuses to hear about that other stuff. Anyway, he also names the most underrated players which he acknowledged was much more fun to write. Some of those underrated players include Yogi Berra, Steve Carlton, Frank Robinson, Bob Feller, Dick Allen and Richie Ashburn. He did get a smile from me though. JD Drew is listed as overrated.
"The thing he's done best throughout his career is find a way to get paid," said Stark. "To me, that's the classic definition of overrated."Story Link: DelcoTimes.com:
