In honor of veterans

I'm shamefully stunted when it comes to trying to write something profound on Memorial or Veterans days. Fortunately, this blog post by my former LACMA colleague Tom Drury takes the ball and runs with it.

Comments

[underdog]

This is off topic, sorry, but Memories of Kevin Malone is saying that Matt Kemp and O Hudson have won Gold Gloves. http://bit.ly/3JVwwv
But haven't seen it reported officially anywhere else yet... so not sure yet.

And my thanks and appreciation to any of you Veterans out there for your service to your country. Bless all of ya!

Wish I had off this day in your honor but those are the breaks...

[regfairfield]

Brandon Phillips at seven million dollars is an absolute bargain. Heck the way he plays defense Brandon Phillips wouldn't be a horrible deal if he hit like Alex Cora.

[Eric Stephen]

If the Dodgers might shy away from Hudson for just one year at ~$8 million or so, I doubt they make a play for Phillips, who is not only due $6.75m in 2010, but $11m in 2011, plus a $1m buyout of a 2012 option (for $12m).

[underdog]

Eric, probably so, but on the other hand, maybe Phillips being younger, and the Dodgers also possibly assuming they'll have more money to spend in those subsequent years, could be an attraction? Considering Hudson will also want a longer than 1 year, pricey deal as well... Just a thought. Right now it's hard to picture them bringing in anyone expensive, though.

[Bill Haverchuck]

Has Phillips every prematurely evacuated his locker?

[Eric Stephen]

The one-year deal for O-Dog I meant was if he accepts arbitration, which of course is unlikely, yet also might be the reason he doesn't get offered arbitration.

[Jack]

Problem with Phillips is he's a hacker.

OBPs:

2005- .326
2006- .324
2007- .331
2008 - .312
2009 - .329

His career average: .312

Phillips does have some pop in his bat...hitting at least 20 home runs the last 3 seasons. But, not sure how much that was due to playing in Cincy or not..

Dealing for Phillips seems a good move in the vain of "There's nothing good in free agency to throw our money at, so might as well trade for Brandon Phillips".. Plus, he seems to be less risky than depending on Dewitt.

[Jon Weisman]

Interview with Linda Purl (Pam's mom from The Office):

http://bit.ly/1KIJFz

[regfairfield]

Phillips is arguably the best defensive second baseman in baseball, he hits better than the average second baseman, and he's got speed. Yeah, it would be nice if he walked more, but he does everything else you could ask of a middle infielder.

[blue22]

As long as we're discount shopping in Cincinnati, I like Aaron Harang more than Jon Garland, Vicente Padilla, or Jason Marquis. Just sayin...

[Tommy Naccarato]

Not to dismiss this topic. (thank you Vets) but I have to ask a couple of things here regarding the McRoses: (The McCourt's)

To the judge who might be looking over this case: did you ever think for a second about demanding both parties go through marriage counseling and staying away from the media? (I think Judges can do that. They do it to everyday, normal working people, right?) Any use of the media could be grounds for right of Emmenient Domain. We could get Al Davis then to buy his beloved Brooklyn Dahges and then take them further into the ground. (After all the LA market is really his.)

I would also like to separately warn Frank and Jamie about swimming in the ocean out in front of the Malibu house; or even the Holmby house(s) pool. LA sports teams and fans know this one from experience that swimming alone can be hazardous to one's health.

Question: If Frank got hit by one of those Starlight tour buses that cruises the neighborhood, looking at Star's homes, would Jamie get the team? (I wonder if Jamie has ever thought of that scenario? )

Vice versus for Frank.

Message to the McCourt's: Go sell crazy somewhere else.

I would think it would be much better to honor the vets who have protected us then put up with the two of you bickering idiots.

[Bob Hendley]

On Armistice Day the philharmonic will play but the songs that we sing will be sad.

[SteelMohawk]

Veterans and Memorial day, reminds me of the days where wars would devastate the league, hinder teams, and where the boys of summer would become men and honor their country. Not that pro-athletes are alone in reluctance to go off to war. Different times.

[Bob Hendley]

Yep, soldiers have turned pro, as it were.

[trainwreck]

Hey Underdog,

Any suggestions for good bars near Union Square?

[tleonp]

In Fielding Bible, Kemp was no higher than the 15th best Centerfielder in baseball. I am flabbergasted.

[regfairfield]

UZR had Kemp at 2.6 runs above average after he was out to such a fast start.

Not sure why, but he didn't catch the ball all that often (16th highest range factor/9 out of CFs with 800+ innings) so that's a good place to start.

[evenatriple]

I just read this line in the Culture Schlock blog (as linked by TBLA):

[Vin Scully] is the last remaining bridge back to the team’s history in Brooklyn, having started with the team in 1950 and then moving west with them to Los Angeles in 1958.

Is this true? Didn't I read that before every home night game Charlie Steiner has dinner with Vin and Billy DeLury, who was I think the traveling secretary (what an odd title, actually) and has been with the team since 1950?

Is there anyone else who has worked from the team since Brooklyn days? Heck, is there anyone there who remains from the O'Malley years?

[Alex41592]

ESPNews is about to officially announce the N.L Gold Glove winners.

[Eric Enders]

Kemp was one of the three best NL outfielders per FRAA.

My eyes tell me that he deserved a Gold Glove, and some of the advanced fielding metrics do too. The fact that he was only voted 14th in the Fielding Bible award mostly means, I think, that the people who voted on that weren't paying much attention.

Also, if the Gold Glove is about defensive value actually contributed... very few of the guys who finished ahead of Kemp in the Fielding Bible voting even played a full season.

[regfairfield]

Eric, which metrics? From what I saw Kemp looked great out there, but him catching the ball less per nine than the average CF makes me wonder what I'm missing.

[underdog]

train, I'm not that familiar with bars in the Union Square area but did enjoy this dive bar:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/21-club-san-francisco

Oh, and the Tunnel Top on Bush above Stockton St is fun (and right near Dashiell Hammett territory).

There's also the Gold Dust Lounge on Powell, Razz Bar on Mason...

More upscale ones abound around there, too. And the Press Club on Yerba Buena lane (just across market) is good as those kinda places go.

[trainwreck]

Bison Gold!!!

[Alex41592]

Congrats to the Bison. Well deserved.

[Defensive Indifference]

Kemp, 1st Gold Glove! Congrats! O-Dog, Gold Glove!

[fanerman]

Woot! Gold Bison!

[Bill Haverchuck]

but him catching the ball less per nine than the average CF makes me wonder what I'm missing

Do these stats control for how many balls are batted to CF in the first place...?

[trainwreck]

Haha cool, my friend suggested Tunnel Top and Gold Dust Lounge too.

[Jon Weisman]

New post up top.