So Far So Good

Saito passes the first test.

Injured Dodgers closer Takashi Saito tested his strained left hamstring before Tuesday night's game, playing catch and doing some light jogging and cross-over drills.

Saito threw softly and landed on his left leg gently, but didn't back off the workout and seemed to be satisfied with his progress in the two days since suffering the injury. Before the workout, he said he does not feel discomfort while doing normal everyday motions.

"The final checkpoint will be when I can throw off a mound," Saito said. "It's throwing off the incline and the twisting, that's where the discomfort was. If I can do that, I can pitch in a game."

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Long Beach Armada Changes Their Name

I just received an email from the Long Beach Armada. Apparently they have changed their name to follow in Anaheim's footsteps.

The Long Beach Armada professional baseball team announced today that it has changed its official name. The new name will be the Long Beach Armada of Los Angeles of California of the United States of North America Including Barrow, Alaska. The name will be the longest of any professional sports team in the world. The Armada have partnered with Barrow, Alaska to form the northernmost sister city franchise in professional baseball.

“In order to better reach the larger Armada Nation, we felt compelled to lengthen the name to incorporate all our fans stretching from the warm beaches of Los Angeles to the frigid beaches of the artic circle,” Golden Baseball League CEO Dave Kaval stated. “Our inspiration was Arte Moreno’s brilliant marketing gambit of positioning the Anaheim Angeles as an LA team. Being a real Los Angeles county team, we too wanted to extend our reach as far north as possible.”
The team will carry an abbreviation of LBALACUSNAIBA. To honor the last two letters of their abbreviation, The Armada will host “Barrow Alaska Day at Blair Field” on Saturday July 30th. The game will be dedicated to the Armada fans in Barrow, Alaska. Armada fans in Barrow, Alaska can tune in to KBRW am/fm for more information on Armada baseball.

Wow. I think I'll go to a Long Beach Armada of Los Angeles of California of the United States of North America Including Barrow, Alaska game.

Press Release Link:

Comparing Saito to Gagne

Steve Hulkower of Bugs & Cranks, one of numerous new (at least new to me) Dodger fan blogs on the Internet, favorably compares our current closer Takashi Saito to the former master Eric Gagne.

"Takashi Saito, in his attempt to emulate the success of Gagne, has not blown a save since August 25th, 2006. Since that day, the Los Angeles Dodgers have played 84 games and Saito has converted all 25 of his save chances...

In the three seasons that covered his consecutive saves record, Gagne struck out 365 batters while only waking 58 for a strike out to walk ratio of over 6:1.

In Saito’s 1 1/3 seasons as a major leaguer, he has struck out 133 batters while walking just 25; a ratio of better than 5:1. In the first two months of 2007, Saito has struck out 26 and walked only 2; a 13:1 ratio.

Eric Gagne compiled an earned run average of 1.79 and a whip of 0.82 during those three seasons.

Takashi Saito has an era of 1.97 and a whip of .84 in his 8 months of Major League Baseball.

Eric Gagne threw 14.92 pitches per inning. Takashi Saito is throwing 16.3.

Gagne had batting averages against of .133, .181, and .189. Saito has batting averages against of .177 and .188.

The most important questions to ask is who misses Gagne now?

Blog Link: Bugs & Cranks:

Are You Looking for Cheap Gas in Your Area?

A friend of mine just sent me this link, so I thought I would pass it along. Just click the below link, put in your zip code and watch as local gas prices pop up.

http://www.gaspricewatch.com/new/default_V3.aspGas Prices Link:

Alyssa Makes a Call to Arms

Alyssa Milano wants all of you to vote and she wants you to vote often. Russel Martin is in 4th place in All-Star balloting and that just ain't right. Click here to vote.Since my childhood crush has yet to dissipate I will do anything she wants. I suggest you do the same. Vote here.

Pierre has Finest Game of Dodger Career!

Juan Pierre has a big game in this evenings blowout against the Nationals.

"Anytime you have a night like that, you're able to slow the ball down and see the pitches real good," Pierre said. "It was just one of those nights when I was hitting the fastball, curveball, change up -- I hit every pitch good. It was one of those nights you have to take advantage of."

Pierre, who had a career-high 13 triples last season with the Chicago Cubs, entered Tuesday's game with six extra-base hits this season -- including five doubles. His 4-for-5 night raised his average 12 points to .286.

"It was probably the best I've felt at the plate as a Dodger," Pierre said.

Let's hope Pierre proves all of his detractors wrong. I know I would be happy to be proven wrong.



Story Link: Yahoo: