The Lenny DiNardo Blog

Lenny DiNard2.0!

He's Back! The 2011 World Series Champion Team is now complete!

Thanks to @jencoleslaw for the tip!

 

Quick Three -- and then farewell

Three Things need to be pointed out for posterity:

(1) An excellent diary posting at Over the Monster discussing Lenny's career so far:

His pride wounded but undaunted still, DiNardo was whiffing more than a batter an inning in the AFL, posting a 3.20 ERA for Peoria, and trying to make a case to be invited to spring training for a bullpen spot in 2007. However, the solid lefty (190 pounds) was claimed off waivers by that Computerbrain Billy Beane on Feburary 14th, 2007. It was a dark day in Red Sox Nation history.

(2) Chris from Westboro's thoughtful post on the beginning and end of this blog (this is SO meta). Thanks, dude:

2004 - In a bar in Washington DC, I sat among friends drinking pitchers of beer and watched the Red Sox open the bullpen to reveal a new face. A young guy who actually ran from the bullpen instead of doing that awkward trot/run/walk (or that slow Jabba-like slither that Wells did). And upon seeing this fresh face, a friend of mine became convinced upon hearing the name Lenny, that this kid was going to save the Red Sox...[more]   

(3) Go-RedSox.com (the Boston.com-sponsored Japanese language Dirt Dogs site...did BDD ever think this day would come?) links to the Lenny DiNardo Blog! Look for these characters: ギターを弾いていた.   Here's the whole thing:

残念なことにJ.D.ドルーを40人枠に入れるためにウエイバーにかけられたレニー・ディナルドがアスレチックスに獲得されてしまった。マウンド上の活躍よりも、アロヨが移籍した後もホットストーブクールミュージックのコンサートなどでGMエプスタインらと共にギターを弾いていた印象の方が強い彼だがロングリリーフと臨時先発でそこそこの成績を残せたのでただでアスレチックスにとられてしまうのはちょっと惜しかった。

Be well, and thanks for reading...and who knows...I still place money that Lenny ends up back in Beantown a la Kapler and Merloni (and Burks and Eckersley and Clemens (???)).

 

OakLen: Reactions from Around the Web

We at the LD Blog are certainly disappointed to lose Lenny to the West Coast. I've pulled some of the reaction from around the web below. For all you Oakland fans logging in (thanks for the link, random commenter at Athletics Nation -- though, to be fair, my favorite A's blog name has to be the Athletic Supporters over at MVN with Evan)

First, Jeff Horrigan, the man who gave this blog its first big exposure, had this to say about Lenny's Departure ("Lenny D is now an A")

One of the friendliest and most cerebral players ever to wear a Boston uniform, DiNardo has a passion for rock music and developed deep friendships with many musicians he met in Boston, including members of the Gentlemen, Buffalo Tom, the Dropkick Murphys, Juliana Hatfield, Kay Hanley and Evan Dando. He has been a fixture at Hot Stove Cool Music fundraiser concerts, playing guitar in Peter Gammons’ all-star band. He’ll find a kindred spirit in Oakland GM Billy Beane, who shares a love of indie, obscure, punk and cutting-edge music.

Evan, over at Firebrand of the American League, is also disappointed about DiNardo's departure:

Count me unhappy with the move. Nick DeBarr, our Rule 5 Draft pick this year, will definitely not make the team. In my opinion, DiNardo is better than Javier Lopez, and we also just signed J.C. Romero and have one of my favorites, Craig Breslow, on the roster. I was a fan of DiNardo, as he was a good guy and I thought could eventually have a nice run of being a solid middle reliever. He still has a great chance at having that run, but he’ll have to do it donning green and gold now.

The Mighty Quinn Machine doles out a bit of trivia of which I was unaware:

DiNardo was the first former Brooklyn Cyclones player to get a World Series ring.

And Graham from Brookline? 

"From Dallas, Texas, the flash  --  apparently official. The Lenny DiNardo blog died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time  --  a half hour ago."

P.S. If you're looking for a really funny sports blog, check Chris from Westboro's Your Fantasy Team Sucks. If you're looking for entertaining, insightful political, social, and rock commentary, check out Graham from Brookline's The Massachusetts Liberal.

 

Sayonardo

BEANE OUTSMARTS EPSTEIN.

LENNY CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS.

RED SOX NATION MOURNS.

I blame myself -- this would have never happened if I had blogged more regularly.

Take Care, DiNardo.

Good luck in Oakland.

Hot Stove/Cool Music/Lukewarm Prospects

(Boston DirtDogs photo)

Lenny showed up at the Hot Stove/Cool Music benefit recently and jammed with Theo and Gammons. That's definitely a good sign. In terms of his chances of jumping back into the organization with all the pitching changes this year, I have no clue.  Our pitching is chock-full-of-warm-bodies, so who knows -- especially as Hideki Okajima is an experienced lefty and will definitely make the team, if for no other reason than to be the Nelson to Dice-K's Pedro. 

For now, here are Lenny's winter league final numbers: 1-0, 2.07, 16K, 5BB in 13 innings pitched.

RIP, Nelson.

Two DiNardo Updates

Lenny did a self-evaluation for Scout.com. Very honest:

But overall, an 8 ERA, in this league, you’re not going to stick around. That’s how I look at it. Gives me a lot to work on, right?

He's been working, though. Apparently he's a superstar in the AFL:

Lenny DiNardo has been one the hottest relievers in the Arizona Fall League over the past three weeks. After being roughed up in his first two outings, the 27-year-old left-hander has been nearly unhittable for the Peoria Javelinas.

The former third-round pick collected his first victory on Monday. He worked two innings of hitless relief in the Javelinas' 12-3 victory over Scottsdale. He fanned three and walked one.

The 6-foot-4 lefty fanned two in a perfect inning on Thursday, extending his scoreless innings streak to six. The Miami native has not allowed a run since he was roughed up against the Saguaros on Oct. 13. He is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in seven games.

DiNardo was selected to the inaugural Rising Stars Showcase game on Oct. 27, but did not make an appearance.

Keep it up, dude.

Peoria Javelinas

Yeah, sorry for the long break...I'm now a citizen of the State of New York, the City of Gotham. I'm subscribed to a Lenny DiNardo news update and decided that now is as good a time as any to start the LD blog up again. You see, Lenny is back on the mound. Now, he's not pitching THAT great, but, hey, it's the Arizona Fall League, and his team has a cool name. What I don't understand is how the great city of Peoria (which I thought was in Illinois--but is actually in Arizona) has TWO baseball teams, when my hometown of WORCESTER only gets one (go tornadoes!).

Dinardo's team for the Fall League is called the Peoria Javelinas. What exactly is a javelina? I would have guessed a female track and field star...but, of course, I would have been wrong. A javelina is a wild hog. How awesome is that? Check out this video on javelina hunting from over on YouTube (warning: the indigo-girl like music leads into a direct bow and arrow strike of a javelina):

ANYWAY: Lenny's now a javelina, and if he keeps pitching like this, he might end up like the boar in the video there. Here's the latest from RedSox.com:

LHP Lenny DiNardo -- DiNardo has not recorded a decision in two relief outings for the Javelinas. The 27-year-old left-hander has allowed five runs -- three earned -- on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He has a 7.36 ERA over his first two games.

Get it going, DiNardo. If you think of it, email me for my address and send me one of them Javelinas hats. Cool stuff.

NOTE: In what is an amazing coincidence, Lenny's manager in Peoria is noneother than Luis Alicea. Graham invoked Mr. Alicea back in March. Unbelievabe.

Wow.

Quick Note

Yeah...I've been a bad blogger. Sorry to my readers (which have dwindled to the random idle yahoo searcher who was looking for images of "Mr. Roto" for some reason). I was in 'Nam, Cambodia, and Thailand....having nothing to do with wars or coups. But I'm back now and I'll probably do a full DiNardo Analysis at some point in the future. In the meantime, I wanted to let you all (that guy searching for Mr. Roto) know that I've decided to start posting on the main Gnopple site. Check it out...there will be Sox related stuff there.

Manny Noticed...

So, my buddy, Graham from Brookline, found this money "internet thing" on the internet. After making a funny and timely use of it. My other "buddy," Jason from Scarsdale, posted this

Thanks, dude.

Less Than Grand

Our old friend, Jeff Horrigan, brings us bad, bad news on the DiNardo front:

It doesn’t look like Lenny DiNardo will be able to help the Red Sox anytime soon. The left-hander, who hasn’t pitched since May 21 due to a strained neck, struggled in his first rehab game at Pawtucket tonight and removed himself from the game without retiring a batter.

DiNardo allowed the first three Charlotte batters to reach base via a walk and two singles before surrendering a grand slam to Casey Rogowski. He then threw a ball to the next batter before leaving due to continued discomfort. DiNardo is scheduled to be examined by Red Sox doctors tomorrow.

Good luck, D.