AngelsLakersFan

I don't think Scioscia can afford to make a decision like this at this point. If he let's Blanton continue to get lit up every 5 days while Williams pitches well out of the pen he will be out of a job at the end of the season when we miss the playoffs.

I think ZiPs had him projected as the best pitcher in baseball coming into this season.

You can see the people in the outfield bleachers looking out behind the stadium trying to see where the ball landed.

Mo Vaughn hit one off the top of the right field scoreboard in Shea back around 2003 or so. It was over 500 ft and man did it make that park look small. The scoreboard itself was probably 30ft behind the fence and it probably hit about 50+ feet up that thing.

He's on the restricted list.

Can someone find ANY comment from Scioscia where he takes direct responsibility for a critical mistake? I can't recall ever reading one.

Too bad runs scored and stolen bases aren't part of the triple crown....

Close call!

"Once Winless Joe"

Here's a scary thought. Being right handed we'd expect lefties to out hit righties vs Blanton in the long run. The fact that right handed AB's are a larger sample is evidence that it is the lefties numbers that need to 'regress' closer towards the righties than the other way around...

LOL I've been making this joke at work for the past month or so. It strangely doesn't get old.

My prediction is, any more than 2 ER's and this is his last start...

I think Joe is pitching for his spot in the rotation tomorrow night.

The most important thing is being able to watch entertaining baseball. That hasn't been the case most of this season, and it may be too late for an exciting post season run but it is never too late for exciting baseball. Glad to have seen it of late, I hope they keep it up.

Win about 14 in a row...

It's because they didn't touch...

Pretty sure it's something from Harry Potter...

This is not the record but Wilbur Wood gave up 381 hits in 1973 for the White Sox, but it was in over 359 innings, and he had a respectable era of 3.46 (16% above the league average). You have to go all the way back to 1904 to find a pitcher who gave up more hits, and in the 1800's it was quite common.

It's funny you mention Sean Rodriguez. I would say my perception of Jean Segura as a prospect was very similar to that of Sean Rodriguez (not that they are similar players, but that they were similarly rated). Both guys projected as major leaguers, but I don't think anyone expected them to be 'good' major leaguers. There is a huge difference between giving up prospects like Trout, or Profar, than guys like Segura or Rodriguez. Guys like Rodriguez and Segura are worth the risk. Sometimes everyone is wrong about a player and you look bad, but you have to go with the information you have at the time.

It was clear at the time that Fielder was the better value that off season. Of course I didn't complain when we signed Pujols, he was 'clearly' the better player and worth a bigger contract.

Nomar?

This was a terribly harsh article, very tough to read, but I couldn't disagree with a single word of it.

I agree with this for the most part. A rebuild isn't going to work because there aren't enough movable pieces to bring enough back. Trading Aybar & Kendrick brings something back but it also ensures we do not compete for years. We are stuck with paying for Pujols and Hamilton either way. This team had the highest WAR in baseball from the position players last season, we could be just as good this year if Pujols and Hamilton were hitting anywhere near where they should be. The pitching is going to suck no matter what BUT Weaver, Wilson and Vargas are good enough to keep us in games, and while the pen is terribad history tells us that they usually aren't deal breakers for most team (worth maybe 3-4 wins between the best and worst teams in a season). The big problem is Vargas is a FA at years end AND we need to bring in at least one more very good starting pitcher in addition to him to really start expecting this team to do well. The issues facing this team are a lack of depth (exposed by injuries), and complete let downs by Pujols, Hamilton and Blanton. If we can get healthy, get Pujol's & Hamilton playing well, and replace the production we expected to get from Blanton this team will compete. The question is if they can do all of that. I have my doubts but it is likely a better option to go for than a weak rebuilding phase that ensures mediocre seasons for the next few years.

I believe Eckstein was a waiver wire pick up. Boston tried to sneak him off their roster and gambled that no one was as high on him as they were (according to Boston's front office later). Kennedy was the centerpiece of the Edmonds deal. We literally didn't have a second basemen and he was highly regarded.

ROFL, it's sad but prob very true.