Embarrassed? Yes. Happy? Yes.

Fuji's latest contest question revolves around an embarrassing piece of memorabilia or related story we have. And by embarrassing, he means the price paid, the piece itself, or the story behind it. I'm going to stretch the definition of memorabilia here, but I find it's a relevant story nevertheless.

I own a Clayton Kershaw Dodgers t-shirt, and I very much enjoy wearing it. I picked it up a couple of years ago after he hit the show. Unfortunately, none of the stores in my neck of the woods had a Kersh shirt in-stock. They had plenty of Andruw Jones shirts and Jason Schmidt shirts, but nothing of a player who was actually good.

So, I had to resort to the unthinkable: buying said shirt from Dodger Stadium. After a game, my buddies and I swung by one of the shops set up outside of the stadium, and I found my Kid K shirt, complete with red number 22 on the front. I knew I had to have it, and knew I wouldn't find one locally for some time, because things that should be simple are often far too complicated. Remember, this was 2009/2010ish, smack dab in the McCourt era.

So naturally, the shirt was waaaaay overpriced.

But I bit anyways and picked it up.

$33 later and I still love wearing the shirt, but hate the price I paid, considering it would have been $16ish from a store in the nearby mall. Had they actually carried any.

Again, I'm happy to have the shirt, and I realize the price may have been the same at other stadiums. However, I'm still embarrassed to this day that I actually shelled out thirty-three bones to that crook Frank.

Vicente Padilla Laughs About Shooting Himself

Funny, because I laughed when we originally signed him, when he got starts over the superior Chad Billingsley in the playoffs, and when we re-signed him this past offseason.

At least he's healthy though. No Jason Schmidt-ing it around these parts Mister.

Ladies and gents, your Number 4 starter, Vicente Padillaaaaaaaaaaa!


Dodgers' Padilla Laughs About Offseason Gun Wound [Yahoo Sports]
Padilla Addresses Accidental Shooting [dodgers.mlb.com]

The Dodgers Gave Out At Least 3 Of The 10 Worst Contracts Of The 2000s

Jeff Passan at Big League Stew lists the 10 worst contracts from this decade.

Three Dodgers make the list, all in the top 5.

Somehow Juan Pierre doesn't make it, though he would have if I had made the list.

At # 5, Andruw Jones.

At # 3, Jason Schmidt.

And at # 1, ........ drumroll please ........ Darren Dreifort.

Understatement Of The Century

Time in LA 'disappointing' for Schmidt.

About Schmidt

(Yeah, I'm late with this. So what, wanna fight about it?)


He's nothing more than a former Dodger at this point, will be a free agent, and will probably retire.

No worries though Jason, if you really want to pitch next year, someone will surely give you a call.



Just don't let them see this summary of your last 3 years:

Notes From Monday's Game

1. The pitching's been criticized by many recently, but it's been a lack of offense that's done the Dodgers in. No reason to fret tonight though, considering Chris Carpenter was on the hill. He tends to pitch well against a lot of teams.
2. Charlie Haeger was pretty good in his debut in Dodger Blue (7 IP, 5 Hits, 3 ER, o BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, O WP, O Passed Balls, 2 HR Allowed, 80 pitches - 61 for strikes). He made 2 bad pitches, and both ended up in the bleachers, though there's no shame in being taken yard by Albert Pujols. I think Haeger clearly earned another start(s), especially considering Joe Torre let Schmidt get multiple starts after coming off the DL.
3. Torre should have let Haeger pitch the 8th.
4. Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless 9th, striking out 2 (both swinging) while allowing a single. Good to see him rebound.
5. James Loney has as many steals as HR- 7. Take from that what you will.
6. Matt Kemp hit his 20th double, Andre Ethier his 30th double.
7. Kemp was back in the 6th spot. Stupid Torre. Not too hard to see that coming.
8. Hiroki Kuroda's start Thursday will be skipped. Elbert or McDonald please. Probably Weaver though. Could be worse though - it could have been Schmidt.
9. What's the point of sacrificing a man to second when you could have him steal second and then bunt him to third? The point is that it's Joe Torre making the calls, so throw logic out the window.
   

Links On A Monday Morning

An article by The Argyled One that I don't feel like reading but probably will, what with the name of the blog and all. Oh joy, 10 minutes of my life I'll never get back. [Bill Plaschke]

The LA Times discusses possible options for the Dodgers rotation. [Dodgers' Rotation Future?] Smoltz - sure, why not; Padilla - NO!

Sucking is now classified medically as a "shoulder injury"? [Schmidt DL'd]

Will Chad Billingsley make his start in San Fran on Wednesday? [Billingsley questionable]

The Bison Strikes Again

Matt Kemp went 4-5 with a homerun, double, 5 RBIs, and 3 runs scored last night to help lead the Dodgers to a 17-4 win over the Brewers. It was Kemp's second 5 RBI game in the first week of August, and while that's obviously an amazing accomplishment, it clearly does not impress all. Joe Torre batted Kemp 5th on Sunday, and he proceeded to put up a 3-5 night with a HR and 5 RBIs. Torre left him in the five-hole for Monday night's game, and Kemp responded by going 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. That kind of production would indicate that Kemp can clearly handle batting 5th in the Dodgers order, if not higher. But old Joe thought differently, and actually dropped Kemp down a spot for Tuesday's game, behind the offensive juggernauts that are Casey Blake and James Loney.

Kemp has had four 5-RBI games this season: August 4th, August 2nd, May 7th, and April 19th. In those four games, he batted 6th, 5th, 6th, and 7th, respectively. Maybe old Joe should consider moving his best overall player and second best offensive player (yes, I'm one of those who believes Manny is just slumping, not suffering from a lack of PEDs or a lack of proper prenatal care) up a few spots, what with getting your best players the most at-bats possible being a pretty important thing and all.

Judging from his track-record, I expect Torre to bat Kemp 9th tonight, with Jason Schmidt manning the cleanup spot.

Also of note, apart from his dynamite night at the plate, Kemp had an interesting night in the field.*




*Photo via Yahoo!