Dodgers play long game of baseball, win

Today, the other Dodgers had Jonathan Broxton's back, just like he has had for them so many times.

Chad Billingsley pitched and hit like an All-Star, and the Dodgers survived the kind of game that scrambles your eggs.

We hammered out a lot in the game thread comments -- so I'm going to get myself back to the living for now.  In the end, the Dodgers gain a game on both the Giants and Rockies. It's a good day.

Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers' James Loney connects for a go-ahead solo home run during the 13th inning of Sunday's game in San Diego. The Dodgers won 7-6. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Poroy

Comments

[Bob Hendley]

Jeez, the game lasted so long that WBB had a chance to eat a big steak, drink some wine and, perhaps, have a panqueque de manzana for postre!

[Zach]

Seriously, anyone here have an opinion on what kind of victory makes us the better team?

Cruising through to the win like it looked early, or fighting it out like we ended up doing?

What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

Is that true here today?

[WBB]

Actually, I decided to just go around the corner and get some empanadas and bring them home, but that was just the time the Dodgers needed. I am gonna have that glass of wine, though, as I watch Sunday Night baseball - as I said, the only televised baseball we get in Buenos Aires.

[ceyhey10]

A good day indeed. Happens so often this year one almost starts to expect the good to come -- eventually.

Here's to patience, DT friends -- and perspective!

[Craig88USC]

NL Top 7 With the Dodgers in Heaven

DODGERS 52-30 . -

SanFrisco . 44-37 . 7 1/2
SaintLouis . 45-39 . 8
Philadelph .. 42-37 . 8 1/2
Milwaukee ... 43-39 . 9
ColoradoR's. 42-39 . 9 1/2
FloridMarlins. 43-40 . 9 1/2

[dodgerkramer]

ken noe:

my friend, I give up on the Bums every time they fall behind in game. ... It makes it that much sweeter when they come back to win!!! ;-)
------

To all DT contributors:

this victory made me very, very happy.

I absolutely love it when the Dodgers win.

I absolutely hate it when the Dodgers lose.

I get emotional about it. I hope you guys/gals don't hold it against me. :-)

Let's go get 'em in New York!!! (and I might just re-book that trip to Milwaukee. hahaha).

[gagne55]

"Seriously, anyone here have an opinion on what kind of victory makes us the better team?

Cruising through to the win like it looked early, or fighting it out like we ended up doing?"

Cruising.

[Bob Hendley]

kramer, we need you in the stands so the folks there can see the Dodger passion, please re-book.

[Hollywood Joe]

I had to avoid posting at the end of the last thread in the interest of peace and sanity

going back through it now all I want to say is that burried in those late inning comments Ken Noe made me guffaw so loud that my wife came over wanted to know what was so funny

thanks Ken!

On to other news, I am going east for business on the red-eye in about 6 hours from now, the only good thing about this coming week is that my friends have seats at Citi right behind the Dodger Dugout. I will let you all know how it goes....

[Michael]

That first run in the 9th was charged to Billingsley because he put that runner on, but it was Broxton who allowed him to score. This is one of those rules that I don't altogether like but there's no way to make it fair. Chad could have stayed in the game and not given up that run, but after he left it was out of his control.

I don't know. It's just one of the quirks of baseball that can be maddening sometimes.

[Hollywood Joe]

Craig your title should read

"NL Top 7 WISHING they were with the Dodgers in Heaven"

They gots a long long way up that hill

[Marty Leadman]

You have no idea how happy I am now that work interrupted me watching (and reading the comments of) the last 7 innings of the game.

[nsxtasy]

I think Bills and Wolfey got together and decided the only way they could keep from getting charged with losses if they drive in enough wins to prevent a loss (even after they leave the game). ;)

BTW, let's hear it for the HEROS of this game:

Bills - for pitching a great game AND for hitting a homer that turned out to be crucial.

Dream Weaver - for great relief pitching. He's been very good in the long relief role (and if he wants, I think he deserves a shot at the fifth starter role).

Leach - Okay, so he's a LOOGY - but we really really NEEDED that LOOGY to come through for us, and he did.

Beard - for a clutch homer with runners on! Lots of others had a similar chance in this game, but none game through. Give credit to the Beard.

'dre - for his homer that first gave us the lead. It, too, turned out to be crucial.

Loney - Every batter came up at least once in extra innings, but only one won the game. Loney's done this before, and yeah, 'dre's gotten some great clutch hits this year, but so has Loney. With all the talent on this team - and there's plenty - Loney's sometimes overlooked, but he's a critical part of the team. (In the field, too!)

Now, it's on to New York!!!

[Chicago Dodger]

Seriously, anyone here have an opinion on what kind of victory makes us the better team?

You asked, I'll comment.

Up 6-1 in the 9th against a team like the Padres, I think winning 6-1 makes you the better team. I don't see how blowing a 5 run lead in the 9th is ever a good thing, even if you do win the game. Certainly it's a good thing to win the thing. But it's a terrible thing to ever put yourself in that situation to begin with, and shows extreme vulnerability, especially considering such a poor team was able to rally back.

When you win a game 6-1, that shows a good team. When you win like they did today, it simply shows they were fortunate. Not good, but fortunate. (And I'm speaking only of today, not the whole season).

Just my opinion.

[Michael]

To Ken Noe,

I've been a Dodger fan since 1941 and have learned never to give up on the Bums. They may drive you crazy, but, in the end, they win.

[Michael]

There's another Michael posting here.

[nsxtasy]

>> Seriously, anyone here have an opinion on what kind of victory makes us the better team?
>>
>> Cruising through to the win like it looked early, or fighting it out like we ended up doing?
>>
>> What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.
>>
>> Is that true here today?

I don't think it matters. EITHER kind of win gives you extra confidence. The cruising wins give you the confidence at the start of the game, and the late innings wins give you the "never say die" attitude in the close ones.

It's also worth noting that, when you eventually win the game, it takes away SOME of the stigma that might otherwise be felt from poor performances that let the game get away. I'm sure Brox doesn't feel anywhere near as bad tonight as Belisario did last night.

[nsxtasy]

>> I don't think it matters. EITHER kind of win gives you extra confidence. The cruising wins give you the confidence at the start of the game, and the late innings wins give you the "never say die" attitude in the close ones.

However, I'd like to also qualify that statement with a nod to Chicago Dodger (from another Chicago Dodger ;) ). I think cruising wins give confidence, and I think late innings wins give confidence. However, I also agree with CD that blowing a huge lead in the ninth saps confidence and is A BAD THING for the team.

[Black and Blue]

"When you win like they did today, it simply shows they were fortunate. Not good, but fortunate."

But weren't the Padres just as fortunate to tie it up? Especially since they are a "poor team". The Dodgers dominated this game, save for a meltdown by a guy who has been unbelievably good.

I don't know whether the team comes out of this long term feeling better or worse, but I was thinking throughout the extras that it would be a great feeling for them if they did win.

Fortunate, good, I don't know really. But this team is a lot of fun.

[Alex41592]

Yes, today the Dodgers were not a great team. Yet, they won. A sign of a great team.

A win is a win. By 10, by 5. Blowing a five run lead or not. A lot of things went wrong and they still won the game.

[nsxtasy]

>> kramer, we need you in the stands so the folks there can see the Dodger passion, please re-book.

I will represent too!

It's not hard to find good seats, reasonably priced at Miller Park, for anyone else here who's considering going to game(s) next weekend. For Chicago Dodger fans it's an easy 90-mile trip by car, Amtrak, bus, plane, etc.

Wear blue!

[WBB]

Blowing the lead means you use your bullpen more than you'd like - especially given a tough road trip coming up. But I expect the flight back back east will be more pleasant than it otherwise would have.

[Michael]

The day off will help too.

[Craig88USC]

Our last 6 'til a well deserved vacation -

@ NY Mets - Kersh (5-5) vs. Pelfrey (6-3)

@ NY Mets - Hiroki (3-4) vs. Perez (1-2)

@ NY Mets - Wolfy (3-3) vs. Hernandez (5-4)

@ Milwaukee - All Star Ace (9-4) vs. Looper (7-4)

@ Milwaukee - Spicoli? (5-2) vs. Burns (1-2)

@ Milwaukee - Kersh (9-4) vs. Gallardo (8-5)

A split would be fine, 4 of 6 devine. : )

[Chicago Dodger]

For Chicago Dodger fans it's an easy 90-mile trip by car, Amtrak, bus, plane, etc.

I'll be there for all 3!

Hopefully the outcomes are better then the last Dodger game I attended. The 13 inning loss to the White Sox a few days back.

[Alex41592]

Today was Scott Hairston's last game as a Padre this season.

Scott Hairston traded to the A's for two minor league pitchers and a PTBNL.

http://twitter.com/FollowThePadres

[Tripon]

This game pissed me off. It was a game that highlighted Torre's weaknesses as a manager. Misusing Broxton, decided that Weaver et al. aren't good enough to get 3 outs in a 4 run game but good enough to pitch when the game is already tied.

Only using Leach for one out and one pitch when it became a battle of the bullpens.

Using Belsiario today before Mota, Leach, Weaver, etc. Despite him being wild and ineffective tomorrow because Torre has to follow his damn script for his bullpen.

And you know what? They still won. I'm not going to question this team's heart, determination, etc. I'm not really interested in that. The Dodgers won a game that pissed off every Dodgers fan off.

On Tuesday, we write it off and begin a series with the Mets.

Just one wish. Seeing a Dodgers reliever that is not Belsario/Troncoso/Broxton pitching in a regular inning. :)

P.S. And not just one of those Leach is a LOOGY situations either!!!!

[Zach]

I hear that Chicago, but being a young team, you'd think they'd fold, but they didn't. Which is nice.

[Craig88USC]

Of course, I'm using the French spelling for divine in honor of Pierre and his 4 hits today. :)

[miketink]

Couple of misstatements above- whlie there should be some sort of negative stat for Brox today, he didn't get a blown save since he didn't come in in a save situation.
Brox has 2 blown saves both when Billingsley started. The first was in SF on April 28. I mention it because in that game Brox threw as many balls as strikes, gave up 2 walks one to load the bases and the 2nd to walk in the tieing run. Until today that was Broxton's only game that didn't have more strikes than balls. Before today on the season Brox has thrown 68% strikes but only 19 of 38 today. Btw in the April 28 game the Dodgers scored in the 9th (Broxton had come in in the 8th after Bills had put 2 men on with one out) so Broxton got the win.
In his other blown save the Dodgers scored in the top of the 10th so he got a win then as well. Tron pitched the bottom of the 10th for a save.

Martin (0 for 6), Manny PH, and Hudson (0 for 1) only batters without a hit today.
Dodgers with 3 players over 50 RBI after this game today.

[Craig88USC]

I just don't know how Torre ever wins a game much less a whopping 52!
(At the 81 game mark, mind you.)

.

Just foolin' with ya, Trip.

[Alex41592]

Yeah and the L.A Times better get on that because this was not a blown save for Broxton. It currently states this was Broxton's third blown save in 23 chances. Which is not true.

He merely cost himself a 'game finished'.

[OhioVic]

Regarding which is better - the crusing win or one like this, I'd have to agree with others that losing a 5 run lead is never a good thing, but I do think wins like this are character builders for teams. Facing adversity together and coming through it is a valuable team experience - especially if they held it together and didn't get frustrated with each other

[Tripon]

Craig, Eric Stephen and the other guys at True Blue L.A. knows my bug about the Dodgers.

I think Torre's a good manager, but the guy isn't the most creative, and he doesn't know when to read the mood.

[miketink]

Thanks to those who commented on my post which mentioned the player born in Haiti on the Dodgers' Dominican team. The web site gives only birth places. The roster lists 39 players (of which 36!! are called active). 1 born in Haiti , 1 in Mexico, 3 in Panama, and 7 in Venezuela (the remainder in the DR)
Theres a 19yo 5'11" pitcher who is listed at 143 lbs.

[DL]

Man, I just read through the game thread. There was much fear and loathing in the comments. Everyone who posted there, go pour yourself a bourbon, if you haven't already done so. Some of you might want to make it a double.

Broxton is going to have games like this. You know why? Because he's a closer. All closers have games like this occasionally. It happens. It sucks, but it happens. Even the best of them have had games like this: Rivera, Hoffman, Gagne, etc. Look at it this way: this same game happens in 2007 or 2008, and we would have lost it. Come to think of it, this same game did happen in 2007, and we did lose it. But not today. We won a game that we probably shouldn't have.

The Red Sox blew a 9-run lead last week and lost, with Jon Papelbon on the mound. We blew a 5-run lead today with All-Star closer Jon Broxton on the mound, and we still won. We're still up 7 games in the loss column, we're still on pace for over 100 wins.

Life is good. Enjoy the bourbon.

[DL]

Oh, and Craig: No more posting updated standings until the current game is over. That was some serious fate-tempting you did.

[oshea2002]

tough day to be Scott Hairston - just got traded to Oakland

[Craig88USC]

I know, DL. My posting career was in serious jeopardy.

[Alex41592]

Dodgers.com

"I heard before the game [Randy] Wolf say we'd go 13 innings today," Loney said. "Blame it all on him."

http://tinyurl.com/raupfj

[Dodger Dave in Oregon]

I believe it is a blown save for Brox. When he entered the game a runner was on second with no outs which means the batter in the hole was the tying run I am not sure, but I think that constitutes a save. Also some how you have to explain why the starting pitcher left the game with the lead and did not get a decision somebody has to be credited with something.

[SteelMohawk]

First Beltre plays a series against the Blue and then goes on the DL, now Hairston plays a series against the BLue and goes to the A's. I hope this is a trend.

[Alex41592]

To clarify:

1. He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning

This did not happen.

2. He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, at bat or on deck

This did not happen. Broxton came into the game with a runner on second and one out. It was 6-2 Dodgers. The tying run must be on deck and it was not.

3. He pitches for at least three innings

Obviously, did not happen.

[Alex41592]

Correction.

Broxton came into the game with a runner on second and nobody out. 6-2 Dodgers.

[Benjamin Miracord]

So, where's the new Plaschke column blaming Jonathan Broxton's ninth-inning collapse on Manny Ramirez?

[Dodger Dave in Oregon]

I still think he is given a blown save even if he came in the game when it wasn't a save opportunity. If they don't call it a blown save then what do they call it?

[Alex41592]

It's just the way baseball writes their rules. It felt like a blown save but by baseball rules it is not actually a blown save.

It's just 3 earned runs for Broxton and that's it. If for instance Torre had pulled Broxton for lets say Belisario and he gave up the base hit Belisario would get the blown save even though the runs would be charged to Broxton. It's just MLB's way of doing things.

[Hollywood Joe]

this blown save discussion is further proof that the save and blow saves are silly stats at best and grossy misleading at worse

[bhsportsguy]

Oh sure HJ, now you tell me about those sweet seats, I could have taken a red eye and joined you. :)

[berkowit28]

Of course blowing a 6-2 lead is worse than blowing a 6-3 save. But it doesn't have its own official stat. Just another quirk of baseball that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Presumably the reason is that lesser pitchers are often brought in for large leads.

[jasonungar]

the blown save goes to the dodger offense.

[Alex41592]

Dodgers (BS, W)

Sort of like what closers get all the time. They blow the save and steal a win. The whole team sort of did that today.

[dodgerkramer]

I AM STILL SO VERY, VERY HAPPY THAT WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dodgerkramer]

dodgerkramer IS concerned about Brox's psyche, especially with the crowds he'll face in New York.

I'm confident that he can rebound, but until I see it...

[berkowit28]

I wonder whether Vin Scully will be going to New York for his induction into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame. What with the Mets trying to absob as much of the Brooklyn Dodgers as they can manage (new ballpark aping Ebetts Field entrance, Jackie Robinson statue, etc.) wouldn't it be nice if they thought of payong Vin the tribute of calling an inning or two for *both* team broadcasts simultaneously?

Of course, that won't happen. And, barring some special event like that, he doesn't even call Dodger broadcats east of the Rocky Mountains. But, just in case he actually is going to New York, I wonder if he'd break his usual habits and attend the game as a fan (as guest of someone or other - if they're classy, the Mets).

[Craig88USC]

...with 4 more hits today, the little guy's line -
.328 (5th best in NL) .386 (16th best in the NL) .411

But I did cast 25 votes TODAY (& I will keep voting daily until they cut me off)
for Matty to join Bills, Brox & O-Dog.

Does anyone know how these injury replacements work? Is it the sole discretion of the manager and coaches OR the next in line in the original voting?

[Jon Weisman]

Padres trade Scott Hairston.

http://itmightbedangerous.blogspot.com/2009/07/scott-hairston-to-oakland.html

[underdog]

One of the players Hairston was traded for is named Italiano.

I wonder if he could've played for the Italian national baseball team.

[Craig88USC]

If Craig makes it up to AAA, it could sound like -

"Italiano into his windup and here comes the pitch to Valentino Pascucci...and it's crushed."

[ucladodger]

I was at the game today, and man, what an experience. First off, it was probably 70/30 in terms of Dodger fans, which really must stink as a Padre player.

Billz was just a stud, kept his pitch count low, and just made 2 mistakes. At the time I didnt like torre bringing the hook after a bloop double and only 97 pitches. If you let him go 120 when he struggles through 6, at least give him some leash under 100 in the 9th. Obviously, Broxton was just a disaster, though it was hard for us to tell how much he was missing by (5th base behind the Dodger dugout...very nice). When a pitcher is just unable to throw strikes, i wish torre would get a guy up in the pen, even if t is the closer. After going 3-0 to almost every hitter, i really would have pulled jon. I'm also glad I wasnt on here to read all of the comments, especially from some of the...um...questionable posters.

also some AS thoughts. I really think Kemp will be placed on the team because there just are no center fielders on the squad. The game does matter, and Hunter Pence (who shouldnt be on the team instead of Kemp) cant play 9 in center. Bison deserved to make the first cut, but he should find his way there. Also some congrats to my man Edwin Jackson. It was a liong road, but he pitched his butt off this season.

[Connector]

Hi everybody -
Yesterday's game started at 11:05 PM Israel time, way too late for me, so I set my alarm for 1:30 AM in hopes of catching the last inning. I caught more than I bargained for, as the Dodgers let the Padres back in to the game in the 9th, and the game continued till inning # Lucky 13.
My eggs were scrambled just like yours but IMHO there was something much deeper going on out there with Brox and Torre's management of the 'pen than what was talked about in the Game Thread comments.
Remember last year's NLDS against the Cubs when Loney hit his grand slam? The camera panned the reaction of the Cubs' fans in the stands. The message behind their eyes was as clear as day: They did not believe in their team. They didn't believe!
IMHO one of Torre's greatest strengths as a manager is his parent-like ability to believe in his players. Yesterday, Torre displayed super-human patience and forbearance - a great word meaning "the refraining from the the enforcement of something (a debt, right, or obligation)"
Any of you who are parents of teenagers know exactly what I'm talking about: When your teenage daughter makes french fries, and the fire gets out of control, and she compounds it by throwing water on it, and the flames burn the pan and the wall and the ceiling but all you say is thank G-d the flames didn't burn your daughter, and you have her make more fries the next week. Or your recently-licensed son takes the car for a drive, and hits another car backing out of a parking space, and you allow him to have use of the car again, after he makes restitution.
IMHO Torre made the right choices throughout those late innings (e.g. leaving in Brox; walking A.Gonzolez; using Leach for one batter). Why? Because his choices sent the message: "I believe in you." It might be that right now he believes in Brox more than Brox believes in himself. I don't know. What I DO know is that leaving Broxton in did more for increasing the Bull's long-term confidence than yanking him. That's parental / managerial experience talking, and that's what believing in someone or one's team is all about.
I don't know about you, but I believe in the 2009 Dodgers.

[Trolley Dodger]

Ardent talk about how bad Torre is as a manager reminds me of Capt Renault in Casablanca talking about being with the blundering Americans when they blundered into Berlin in 1918.

[Phenomenal Smith]

Joe Torre doesn't read moods?

What in the world does that mean?

[gpellamjr]

PS--http://tinyurl.com/p44vak

[Tripon]

What I meant is that Joe Torre decided that Broxton was going to finish the 9th inning, even if he lost the game when it was clear that he didn't have his command that day.

I wasn't able to watch the game, I was listening on the radio to Steiner and Monday, and during the whole 9th I was wondering why Torre didn't bother to warm anyone up until the the winning run came to bat.

[Who Is Karim Garcia?]

@PSmith

Maybe we can get all the players mood rings.

[Tripon]

Also when Steiner and Monday yelled out that the Dodgers somehow kept the tying run from scoring in the bottom of the 9th, and it was a 6-5 win... then oops, the run did score and it was tied was a gut punch.

Sorry, that 9th inning was just gut wrenching and could have been avoided if Torre was more active in his bullpen management.

[Phenomenal Smith]

Barring an injury, I don't think I've ever seen any manager take out his best pitcher in such a situation ever. Even if that pitcher is having a bad day.

If the Dodgers had been the home team, Broxton might have been pulled if he had given up the lead. But on the road, closers are sent out there until the inning is over.

Essentially, you are asking Torre to assign values to each reliever each day as if he were watching 8 slot machines to see which one was the most likely to give a favorable payoff that day.

[Tripon]

True enough, PS.

[Craig88USC]

So let me get this straight - If Joe could have figured out earlier that Jonathon was in a bad mood he could have brought someone in with a better one. I think Brox is sorta always in a bad mood when he pitches so this could be tricky for Torre.
But he sure judged Weaver's mood alright so we could pull out the victory. ;) -

DODGERS 52-30 . -

SanFrisco . 44-37 . 7 1/2

- These results kinda show that Joe knows what he's doing at the halfway mark or maybe the Giant manager is just much worse at readin' moods.

[Tripon]

Mood as in situation, not mood as in emotion.

[Phenomenal Smith]

I thought it was mood as in indicative, imperative, and subjunctive.

Torre keeps on saying, "If I was the King of England, I'd make the House of Lords an elective body."

But it should be "If I were the King of England..."

[skybluestoday]

Tripon --

Goodness, wasn't Steiner's call on that third out just awful?

DODGERS WIN! What a way to win, too! Gonzalez starts to come home and then is tagged out at third!

Oops.

Never mind, Gonzalez crossed the plate to tie the game.

Whoops. Sorry, folks.

(and this all took a LONG time for him to sort it out)

I don't really mind his broadcasting style, but sometimes I think he needs half a Valium with his Red Bull. Not every pop fly to the outfield is going out, Charlie.

[K T]

Jon,
How about extending rule 9 to include not being able to put the game in the bag and posting "updated" standings.

Yesterday meltdown occurred after a few posts that the game was won. Now this situation follows the same superstitious nature of not talking about a no-no or perfect game and has the same results...

I almost burned my steaks yesterday because i had to come in for the whole bottom of the 9th...couldn't record the game because it was played down here in SD...didn't get it and had to listen to MLB radio

[GoBears]

Wow. I skipped the game thread and just read this one. I'm very glad I did. Sounds like there was much rending of garments.

Stay cool everyone - it's a long season.

[TheRealPaul]

"Of course blowing a 6-2 lead is worse than blowing a 6-3 save. But it doesn't have its own official stat. Just another quirk of baseball that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Presumably the reason is that lesser pitchers are often brought in for large leads."

Presumably the idea behind the BSV or not is that before the 4 runs score, someone else will have come in to blow the save, ie., the one soul gives up 2 and leaves with 2 on, and what with it now a save situation the closer comes in, he fails, and so 4 ER are charged to the soul who came in a non-save situation and the closer takes the BSV. So one can fairly say that Joe T managed against the presumption Sunday.

Lastly, Jon, you might want to consider whether some have Brox on their fantasy team(s). Worst nightmare is the closer making an appearance in a non-save situation and giving up 4. So maybe don't assume that all the heat was owing to the real [as opposed to fantasy].

[Dave60]

From Keith Law's column this morning, in which he argues that Matt Kemp should have been named to the All-Star team, "Of course, if the Dodgers had beaten the Phillies in the NLCS last year and Joe Torre was managing the All-Star team, he'd bat Kemp eighth and probably pinch hit for him at the first opportunity."

I like a good laugh to start the day.

[Jon Weisman]

"Lastly, Jon, you might want to consider whether some have Brox on their fantasy team(s). Worst nightmare is the closer making an appearance in a non-save situation and giving up 4. So maybe don't assume that all the heat was owing to the real [as opposed to fantasy]."

This has nothing to do with anything I wrote.

[Terry A.]

I read some of yesterday's game thread, too. Maybe it was just the mood I was in, but I was kind of amused by it. There were some obstinate and obtuse things written, but even the harshest "arguments" reminded me why this is my sole source for Dodger community -- no profanity, no name-calling, no baiting, no insults.

And no politics. Thanks again, Jon.

[Ken Noe]

Thanks to Kramer, Joe, Michael for the kind words at the top. I've been a fan since '65. There've been LA teams, some recently, that I expected to find a way to lose. This '09 team, I always expect to find a way to win.

[Jon Weisman]

New post up top.

[Rich Seeley]

Did anybody notice that KCAL blew coverage of the extra innings on Sunday. Twice after Broxton blew the save, KCAL switched from the game to half-hour segments of a Hollywood entertainment news show.

On Time-Warner in Palm Springs we have a Padres channel, so we were able to switch over to that and see the end of the game.

But this is kind of sloppy on the part of KCAL. They need to have a plan for what to do when games go to extra innings.

[Frip]

Jon: "Today, the other Dodgers had Jonathan Broxton's back, just like he has had for them so many times."

Awkward phrasing.

[Craig88USC]

So IF the NL 2nd half plays out like the 1st half has done win-wise the Dodgers projection would be 104, St. Louis and SF both at 88, Philly with 86
and the Brewers, Rocks & Marlins all at 84.

[Craig88USC]

So IF the NL 2nd half plays out like the 1st half has done win-wise the Dodgers projection would be 104, St. Louis and SF both at 88, Philly with 86
and the Brewers, Rocks & Marlins all at 84.