Happy Independence Day, internationally speaking

Happy birthday, people of the nifty 50. But now, for a quick look beyond our borders, here's Kevin Baxter of The Times:

... Thursday was the first day major league teams were able to sign eligible Latin American amateurs. And though the day came and went without the Dodgers making a move, General Manager Ned Colletti said it wasn't for a lack of interest.

"We're got a lot of things working down there," he said. "There's some people we're interested in. We didn't use the [signing] date the way some people use it."

The Cardinals and Yankees both acted quickly, for example, with St. Louis signing power-hitting Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo for a franchise-record $3.1-million bonus, according to Baseball America, while New York signed three players, including highly touted Dominican catcher Gary Sanchez for $3 million.

"A lot of us are just waiting and letting the prices come down," said Logan White, the Dodgers' assistant general manager for scouting. "Some agents are way out there with the prices. Some kids that we all like won't necessarily sign [soon]. Hopefully, we spend our money wisely."

* * *

Bison hears a boo: "(Manny Ramirez) was getting booed before all this," Matt Kemp told Greg Patton of the Press-Enterprise. "When you're good, you get booed. I want to get booed."

Kemp laughed and added, "Yeah, I do. I want to get booed. It means you're doing something right."

* * *

Zealous with the zeroes: Colorado has an 0.73 ERA over its past five games, writes Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. San Francisco might have solved its Jonathan Sanchez problem with Ryan Sadowski, who has begun his career with 13 consecutive shutout innings. And who doesn't like being mentioned in the same rarefied air as Mike Remlinger (who actually had a better career than I remembered)?

Comments

[Tripon]

""A lot of us are just waiting and letting the prices come down," said Logan White, the Dodgers' assistant general manager for scouting. "Some agents are way out there with the prices. Some kids that we all like won't necessarily sign [soon]. Hopefully, we spend our money wisely.""

Isn't that partly because of the huge demands of the buscons on the bonuses these signees get?

If you have to give up 30% of your signing bonus to a 3rd party, you'd want to fight tooth and nail for every dollar you can get.

[underdog]

I still think some of these international players are way overpriced and risky, so unless there's somebody the Dodgers are absolutely in love with and feel is close to a sure thing seems smart to wait it out a bit. But be curious to see who they sign.

The Bison quote is pretty awesome.

Oh, and happy Fourth everyone!

[Diamondswamp]

Watched BLUETOPIA late last night on CH 9, especially liked reliving the excitement of the Dodgers signing Manny and watching Vin Scully in action. You missed a turn to the stadium. Nervous meeting him?

[pdotmac1]

"Kuo is doing very well," Torre said. "We're very excited about that."

I would love to know more.

[Craig88USC]

Latest NL Standings

LA 51-29 (104 Wins?)

Frisco ....... 43-36 . 7 1/2
St Louis ..... 44-38 . 8
Colorado...... 42-37. 8 1/2
Milwaukee.... 42-38 . 9
Philadelphia .. 40-37. 9 1/2
Chicago Cub .. 39-38 .101/2
FloridaMarlins . 41-40 .101/2
CincinnatiRed .. 39-39 .11
New York Mets .. 39-40 .111/2
Atlanta Braves .... 39-40 .111/2
Houston Astros ... 38-40 .12
PittsburghPirates . 37-43 .14
SanDiegoPadres .. 34-45 .16 1/2
Arizona Diamonds . 31-49 . 20
WashingtonNations. 22-55 . 27 1/2

[Doug Minnick]

On the post-game show, I think I heard Steve Lyons and the other guy discussing how Manny was not yet in game shape and would get time off - a few innings today and probably the whole game on Sunday. "Count on it" they said. This sounds crazy. Did I hear them right?

[Craig88USC]

I think the plan is for him to play a little less to start in San Diego...

Then be ready to play a little more as they move on to Milwaukee
and New York City next week. I think. : )

[Alex41592]

Steve Lyons' take on Manny from the L.A Times:

"He's really not ready to play. ... I'm really disappointed he didn't use his time (off) better ... so by the time he got here he was more game-ready. I'd be surprised if he's in the lineup tomorrow."

http://tinyurl.com/krb75o

[Doug Minnick]

Thanks, Craig. Manny was also saying after the game that his legs weren't "ready" yet

That's baffling to me. I thought the issue was getting him back into the groove in terms of actual game at-bats. Why wouldn't his legs be in shape? And how does reducing the number of at-bats get him closer to being fully ready? Weird.

[Tripon]

Lyons is right about Manny basically using the next week or so to rehab on the major league level.

But Manny is playing today.

[underdog]

I don't think that's a big surprise. Even if they'd given him another game in the minors (which I think they should have, but wouldn't have made a huge difference), he probably would've been eased back in imho. I certainly wasn't expecting him to mash right off the, er, bat. Sitting him tomorrow makes sense to me. I'd rather him be able to play more on the trip next week.

[regfairfield]

I never realized ESPN could broadcast something ironically until I saw two minutes of the hot dog eating contest

[gpellamjr]

7.5 games up on the entire national league. That's incredible. I always wondered what it's like to root for a team with a big lead. It's quite nice.

I've actually at times found myself feeling some consolation when SF or Col win, because it at least vindicates the NL West a bit.

As for Manny, Doug Minnick, I agree with you. I thought he was working out like crazy at DS before every game. He looked like he was in good shape. Seems all he needs now is ABs.

[Tripon]

Taken from ESPN:

"Young gun

Jonathan Broxton outdueled Joel Zumaya, sort of, throwing the four fastest pitches on Friday night. Broxton's 102.6 mph swinging strike against Kevin Kouzmanoff was his fastest pitch of the season, and is the fastest non-Zumaya pitch of the season. From Matt Lyon of ESPN Statistics and Analysis:

Pitcher Hitter Speed Result
Broxton Kouzmanoff 102.6 Swinging Strike
Broxton Alfonzo 102.1 Ball
Broxton Alfonzo 101.8 Called Strike
Broxton Alfonzo 101.6 Swinging Strike
Zumaya Cuddyer 101.2 Foul"

[Craig88USC]

Yeah if the Cardinals lose this morn to the Reds -

The West would have the 3 best records percentage wise in the National League.
Now that's weird... explain yourselves, ESPN talking heads. ;)

[nsxtasy]

Yes, it's great that we have that big lead. What's remarkable is that it has remained so stable. What not everyone realizes is that it's because the Gnats and Rox have improved significantly since earlier in the season, but the Dodgers have kept up with them all along the way.

BTW, while the Padres have been losing, they too have still been doing better than anyone would have expected, after selling off so much talent over the winter, and having Peavy and Young injured.

[Gen3Blue]

Looks like a FOX Dodgerless Saturday here on the E Coast.

Try everybody concentrating on hard rain in Philadelphia.

[berkowit28]

After two months off, of course it's going to take Manny time to get back into shape. I don't think he was even fully into his groove, having missed most of spring training, even when he was suspended. After the 6 days in new York and Milwaukee, he'll be only a bit more acclimatized, then there's another 3-day break. I think we'll see him gradually warm up over the long 9-game home stretch after the all-star break, then raring to go and back into his prime by August - when if we're lucky we'll see a repeat of last year: August, September, and more of October of top-class Manny.

[Craig88USC]

I would take that, too

BTW - Owings homers to make it 2-1 Cincy over Cards now in the 3rd. (No Pujols slams today, I hope. He's up now witha runner. Walk him!)

[Jon Weisman]

New post up top.

[twerp]

After I mentioned R.A. Dickey's impressive seasonal stats yesterday, it figures he would go right out and turn in a woofer of an outing.

Got credit--blame, maybe--for the Twins' 11-9 16-inning loss. 3 IP, 9H, 4R, all earned, 0 BB, 0 Ks. Sent his ERA soaring to 2.96 for the season.

Probably most here are familiar with his story--starring in college, set to bag a big signing bonus with the Rangers until they discovered he was missing the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, then signing for much less, struggling in the majors, yet hanging on. His season so far indicates a possible breakthrough.

The ligament he's missing is the one which is repaired during Tommy John surgery. So Dickey won't ever have to worry about that procedure, at least.

Maybe he should go by M.E.U.C.L Dickey, for missing elbow ulnar collateral ligament. Conventional wisdom is he shouldn't even be able to perform many everyday tasks like opening a door or turning a key, let alone pitch well enough to be anywhere near the majors.

Link below retells his story, if anyone cares. New to me from it was that he can still throw a FB 86-87, which adds to his arsenal even if rarely used. Also throws his knuckler quite a bit faster than most.

Since I've posted a few times here about him, I probably won't again.

http://tinyurl.com/lr6q95

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/baseball/archive/2009/04/the_story_of_ra.shtml

[Craig88USC]

...and they do walk Albert. Now 2 on with Duncan and then Ankiel up for St Louis still down 2-1...

no damage, inning over. Go little Red machine. ;)

[artful dodger]

Happy 4th of July to everyone.
Lets take the time to thank the great Dodger in the sky that we live in this beautiful country. As Vin has said time and time again "Freedom is not free". And how about a small prayer for our troops overseas. God bless America!!

[Jon Weisman]

Wimbledon record for a set is 46 games, set in the 1960s.