Dawning of a new age and it ain't Aquarius folks.

Broad/O’Malley in ’10!

of Dodger Thoughts:

@truebluela I really have to get it together and write something like that at some point. Good job

A extremely young, cheap core like Loney-Martin-Kemp-Ethier-Bills-Kershaw-Broxton just doesn’t come around all at once. The Dodgers should have plenty of payroll to add pieces to that core to win multiple WSs.

Now that the Yankee’s have acquired another front line starter, the Dodgers should consider grabbing Gaudin to be the bargain basement 4th starter. He’s either quite good or quite bad, just have Haeger warming up for his bad days and get him out quick but when he’s on, he’s very very good. For some reason he was also quite effective in Colorado this year.

Lets do something about it

The team’s issues, clearly and concisely summed up.

It just sucks being hamstrung to the point of not being able to take advantage of potential deals/bargains.

Get draft picks for Wolf and/or Hudson? Nope, we can’t take that chance because we can’t afford any chance of having a good player return on a non-guaranteed, one year contract.

Swoop in to get Harang from the payroll-shedding Reds, adding $6-8m or so to the payroll while flawed starters are getting signed for $7.5m per year? Nope, we can’t afford to add much in payroll, so we’ll deplete our farm system once more by liquidating a prospect or two.

I really didn’t mind the Carroll deal, except for the second year, but I, like Phil, was taken aback when I saw the structure was backloaded ($1.35m in 2010, $2.5m in 2011). A move like that probably doesn’t have much of a ripple, but it is eyebrow-raising nonetheless.

Because you either sell them when they have value (if you don’t have plans to use them yourselves) or you risk being faced with the Andy Martes of the world.

On the otherhand, I agree with what Phil said. While I don’t necessarily believe that an owner should spend more than he is taking in, I do think that if management was more transparent with their situation (and that in itself is a pipedream), then we would know exactly what the financial situation is all about.

Orlando Hudson’s pride might have ultimately won out but it is sure quiet for him in terms of anyone signing him to make more than what he made last year (and I mean before incentives).

those salary dump teams. Thank you MLB for allowing a broke owner to buy the Dodgers in the first place and now use it towards paying his own extensive debts. It’s sickening to me that the Dodgers could do so well at the gate and the fans will see a negative return on their investment for 2010.

who loves the changeup.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/chat/_/id/30042/dodgers-clayton-kershaw

who is the funny guy in the dugout?
Clayton Kershaw
  (1:04 PM)

In the clubhouse, you kind of see James Loney being the funniest guy…just not on purpose. He’s kind of out there and does his own thing. If you watch his antics for 20 minutes, you’re completely entertained.

Angels are closing in on Fernando Rodney.

and think he would do fine in LA. I don’t want to give up a top ten prospect for him, though.

There were 77 pitchers in MLB w/300 IP in 2008-09. A.Harang ranked…

24th in K/9 (7.66)
23rd in BB/9 (2.41)
17th in K/BB (3.09)
but 77th in HR/9 (1.53)

That HR rate is pretty high, and it’s not even a product of the ballpark.

2008-2009 HR/9
Home: 1.46
Away: 1.62

let’s not forget that McCourt is who he is, and it should have been MLB itself (ie. Selig) that should have taken one look at him and his business plan, and said, “Have a complimentary snack on your way out the door. Looks like you’re gonna need it.” But Selig has been to Major League Baseball over nearly a generation (and who knows how much longer?!) what McCourt has been to the Dodgers for a few years. At this point, I’m kind of amazed that MLS hasn’t taken MLB over in popularity!

This is a pretty funny/sad Steve Phillips story.

will have to settle for another one-year deal. Not much of a market beyond the Nats.

lets not forget this gem, the one and only time someone confronted him about the divorce:

“There’s no reason to get into any debate about what’s going to happen,” Selig said. “The Dodgers will be in Los Angeles for as long as we’re alive and for many generations to come.” (source: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-shaikin-dodgers19-2009nov19,0,7474714.story)

Thanks, Bud, because keeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles is what this debate is really about. And you think MCCOURT’S not being straightforward!

Anyway, this obviously concludes the thread, since Bud says there’s no reason to debate what’s going to happen. How we’ve been able to continue talking about this so long when there’s no reason to debate is beyond me!

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/573/hello-college-basketball-nation

Is Frank McCourt’s goal is to be eligible for revenue sharing?

from Beto Duran:

Pacquaio-Mayweather in jeopardy bc Pac refusing to Olympic style drug test 30 days prior as rqsted by Mywthr bc of superstitions

The shenanigans the front offices must engage make it very difficult to be optimistic about the franchise long term, at least until the McCourt are in the must-sell position. The current team still has plenty to root for, and the on-field product this season should still be worth the price of admission, but the repositioning moves, e.g., filling the bench, adding a key need, that every team needs to make in the off-season looks like they will get harder and harder for the McCourt Dodgers to make.

I would like to see one major aspect changed. Instead of the player remaining on the 25-man roster all season, there should be a mandatory re-call date (say, June 1st). The way it’s currently set-up really isn’t feasible these days.

NPUT
http://www.truebluela.com/2009/12/22/1213254/how-about-some-good-news

As a Rockies fan, I frankly didn’t know who Frank McCourt was until this past March when he appeared at Camelback Ranch in ST. He was treated like a celebrity. Fans posed for pictures with him and he signed Dodgers memorabilia for everyone. After the game, he appeared from his suite and caught and signed items from his balcony. Fans seemed to love McCourt.

I had no idea MLB owners would be treated that way. Remember, when the Rockies won the NL Pennant, there was a resounding boo at Coors Field when the Monfort brothers were announced. Times can change fast.

Doesn’t look great, but you have been pointing this out for some time now; in situations like this it sucks to be right.