Post-Game 99 Thread: Egg Zach Lee

METS 15, DODGERS 2

Zach Lee's major league debut was pretty much a nightmare, with the Mets stomping all over Lee over 4.2 IP for 11 H and 7 ER. Lee's ERA ends his first ever day at 13.50, which is horrific, particularly considering the Mets have had offensive woes of late.

Lee was relieved by Chin-Hui Tsao, who didn't do much better: 0.2 IP, 6 ER. Tsao's ERA is 10.29. Throw out yer' dead! Because really, it's only one game.

Joc Pederson and Jimmy Rollins each had solo HR. Lead shrinks to two games in the West.

Post-Game 91 Thread: Washington Filibuster Prevails

NATIONALS 5, DODGERS 3

The Washington Nationals were losing 2-1 to the Dodgers thanks to a two-run HR by Adrian Gonzalez, who launched the ball into the right field stands with a rocket, scoring Justin Turner. Disappointed, the Nationals did what any two-bit desperate franchise would have done: they turned out a bank of lights along the third base line. A long delay of game later, with Dodgers starter Mike Bolsinger clearly interrupted, the Nationals jumped out to a 3-2 lead.

Then the bank of lights went out again, causing a full suspension of the game for the evening. When the two teams resumed play this morning, Adrian Gonzalez hit another HR to tie the game at 3.

Unfortunately, with Pedro Baez pitching, PH Matt den Dekker hit a two-run HR in the bottom of the eighth to win the game for Washington. Would this have happened if the game had played uninterrupted on Friday evening, as planned? Would Bolsinger have lasted beyond four innings, alleviating our need to pitch Chin-Hui Tsao (2.0 IP, 2 ER), if we hadn't had that electrical chicanery? If Woody had gone to the police, would this have happened?

I'm pissed off. Let's hope we come back in the regularly-scheduled game this evening.

How Do You Say "Black Sox" in Taiwanese?

Hey look, it's a former Los Angeles Dodger in the news, allegedly involved in a game-fixing scandal in Taiwan:

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Authorities are investigating whether Taiwanese baseball players accepted bribes to fix games, a prosecutor said Tuesday, the latest blow to the integrity of the sport on the baseball-loving island.

Prosecutor Cheng Hsin-hung refused to identify the players involved in the probe, but former Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tsao Chin-hui has acknowledged that investigators searched his Taipei home on Monday.

"I regret [the investigators] failed to understand what happened with me and others who have played in good faith," said Tsao, who this year joined the Brother Elephants of the four-member Chinese Professional Baseball League -- Taiwan's top league.

The 28-year-old Tsao was the first Taiwanese pitcher to take the mound in the major leagues but struggled through a series of injuries which limited his appearances for both the Rockies and Dodgers. [...]

"We have ruled out the possibility that the players were intimidated and forced into throwing games, and are investigating whether they accepted improper benefits," he said.

Taiwanese media, citing unnamed investigators, said that starting pitchers could earn up to $90,000 per outing from high stakes gamblers for agreeing to throw games.

Well this leaves a tsao-ur taste in my mouth. I suppose any Taiwan Championship Series that involves the Uni-President Lions and Brother Elephants, and goes to seven games, is immediately suspect.

Chin-Hui Tsao, Mustard Elephant

Via Diamond Notes comes the whereabouts of former Dodger Chin-Hui Tsao: He's playing for Taiwan's Brother Elephants, a team apparently inspired by/in competition with the 1972 Padres:

Nate Colbert, Padres, circa 1972.

Again, Elephant:

Sheng-Wei Wang, Elephants, 2007.

Padre:

Dave Winfield, Padres, 1970's.

Elephant:

Padre:

And a bonus:

Dad!

Wolf, Tsao Toast

Injury news from Diamond Leung:

WOLF, TSAO OUT FOR THE YEAR

Randy Wolf will undergo diagnostic arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday after experiencing more discomfort in his shoulder. It's a tough blow for Wolf, who turned down multi-year deals this offseason to pitch for his hometown team. Now he's looking at going into next season without a guaranteed contract. "I took a gamble, and I lost," Wolf said.

Chin-hui Tsao has been shut down indefinitely, and will miss the remainder of the season. He is resting and rehabbing his shoulder, but could be facing another major surgery.

Also, Nomar Garciaparra could be activated from the disabled list as soon as today to serve as a pinch hitter. His attempts have jogging have been met by sharp pain, but he can swing a bat. Kirk Gibson, anyone?

And from Tony Jackson:

WOLF TO HAVE ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY

Randy Wolf experienced more pain when he started throwing harder while playing catch. He'll have a diagnostic arthroscopic procedure on Thursday at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic just to get a more up-close look than what the two MRIs could show. If they find nothing, he will be out six to eight weeks, which knocks him out for the season. If they find something, they'll fix it, and he could be out six to nine months. Stan Conte said they don't think there is anything seriously wrong, but Randy Wolf didn't seem so optimistic. This might or might not mean he is done with the Dodgers, but the club clearly isn't picking up his $9 million option for next year.

Thanks go out to Wolf for giving the Dodgers a hometown discount. Here's to a full recovery.

Welcome Back, Yhency!

From Diamond Leung:

Reliever Chin-hui Tsao will go on the disabled list with a shoulder strain, and making his return from Tommy John surgery will be former closer Yhency Brazoban, who was called up from Class AAA Las Vegas.

For Once, Dodgers Not Jiltee

MLB Trade Rumors interviewed Troy Renck, the Rockies/MLB beat reporter for the Denver Post:

There was a lot of interest in Chin-Hui Tsao after the Rockies non-tendered him. What do you think of that decision?

From the outside looking in, Tsao's departure is a headscratcher. He only got $100,000 guaranteed from the Dodgers. But having watched his rehab play out last season, it was clear that Tsao wanted a fresh start. He's the most talented Rockies' prospect I have ever seen. But it just didn't seem like he was every going to escape the black cloud if he stayed in Denver. I'd like to see him have a career given his talent, hardly certain given his two serious surgeries on his shoulder and elbow. Anyway, he definitely wanted a fresh start somewhere else.

Tsao Signing Reveals Nationality Questions

I don't read the Sporting News all that much, but their latest weekly wrap-up revealed some interesting news on new Dodgers pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao (my emphasis in bold non-italic font):

The team has a counterpart to lefty Hong-Chih Kuo, having signed righthander Chin-Hui Tsao, whose aborted closer career ended with being non-tendered by Colorado. Like Kuo, Tsao is a one-time Taiwanese phenom signed for big bucks before injury derailed him. After coming off Tommy John surgery, he had shoulder surgery in May of 2005 and hasn't pitched in a game since, but the Dodgers will take the chance that he can come back the way Kuo has from two Tommy John procedures.

"One-time Taiwanese"? The Dodgers should make sure they discover Tsao's other nationality (nationalities?), as part of their outreach marketing to Los Angeles' diverse ethnic communities.

I'm hoping Tsao is part-Persian, myself.

Dodgers Sign Taiwanese Pitcher; Spelling Barbs to Follow

Steve Henson of the LA Times just posted that the Dodgers just picked up Chin-Hui Tsao, once the Colorado Rockies' top pitching prospect (though about three to four years ago).

Tsao, 25, is trying to come back after multiple surgeries and has not pitched in a game since May 2005. He did clock 94 mph pitching in front of scouts this winter, when the Rockies did not offer him a contract.

Picking him up cost the Dodgers a scant $420K, and potentially less if he doesn't make the roster by opening day.

SoSG is looking forward to learning the myriad methods of spelling "Tsao" from other blog comments.