Happy New Year TBLA Readers
by Phil Gurnee on Dec 31, 2009 6:08 PM PST
Email
Print
Thanks for sharing the ups and downs of the 2009 Dodger season with us. We may have ended on a downside but for most of 2009 it was a good ride. Be safe not only for yourselves but for those around you.
52 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Happy New Year...
to all Dodger fans.
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Jan 1, 2010 12:12 AM PST reply actions
Happy New Year peeps
May your 2010 be better than it’s likely to be for Gilbert Arenas and/or Javaris Crittenton (in the Pau trade!). :)
Zero
The number of exhibition/bowl games I have watched so far and plan to watch. What a waste to the finale of an exciting sport. How many weeks of rest will Ohio State have when it finally plays in the “Title” game?
vr, Xei
Just curious
Are people heartened that the Dodgers are at least making some efforts to secure their future or dispirited at what might be just an another indication of cash-strapped ownership?
To me, locking up the arb-eligibles doesn’t have as much to do with cash flow as it does with good long-term planning. Players like Kemp, Ethier, Billingsley, et al, will all earn more money if they go year-to-year in arbitration anyway, so locking them up should happen. I would be worried if good players got non-tendered or being dangled in trade talks because the team can’t afford them.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 1, 2010 12:34 PM PST up reply actions
Must go with the no spending flow until the legal proceedings are complete?
{scream into towel}
by 68elcamino427 on Jan 1, 2010 1:07 PM PST up reply actions
I would be worried if good players got non-tendered or being dangled in trade talks because the team can’t afford them.
I would only worry if we’re unable to get strong value in return because other clubs see us as desperate to unload. If the Dodgers are able to pull off a Bedard-like heist (from the O’s perspective) with one of their star young players (minus Kershaw of course), then do it.
I mean worried from the standpoint that they would only be offered in trade because the club couldn’t afford to pay their arb salaries, which I don’t think is the case.
You mean like what the Marlins do with most of their arb eligibles. Yeah, they haven’t done a very good job lately of getting good returns. But I guess my point is, if we could get outstanding prospects for someone we can’t afford and will leave via free agency soon, then it’s worth exploring.
the only players I think about are...
Loney, Sherrill, and maybe Kuo. You could see Broxton, but I think he is a huge piece for us. I wouldnt do it with Martin, Kemp, Kershaw or even Billingsley because I think they are key pieces in the long haul.
The interesting thing would be Ethier. I personally wouldnt trade him unless its one hell of a haul, but if our own prospects are ready, then maybe. Now the question is would it even be worth it to let Robinson or Lambo a starting spot. Also, with Manny gone after this year, Ethier could go into LF and Robinson goes to RF, with Lambo at 1B(and Loney traded for prospects or a FOR pitcher). Of course, a lot of things need to happen in order for the latter to happen.
Basically, it would be on very rare circumstances to trade Broxton or Ethier, more likely for Loney, Sherrill or Kuo, and no circumstances do i trade Kemp, Billz, Kershaw, or Martin.
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Jan 1, 2010 7:23 PM PST up reply actions
Is it really true
that all of these players will earn more going year-to-year in arbitration? I was under the impression that signing young players to long-term deals makes sense only if the team signs the player through his first or second year of free agency… that is, if the deal is only through his arbitration years, the team may be overpaying the player.
That means that the team has to determine which of these players it wants to keep long-term. And if that’s true, then it means that the Dodgers might be better off going year-to-year with a player like Ethier (who will be on the wrong side of 30 when he hits free agency) and letting him walk as a free agent.
If I’m wrong about this stuff, I’ll happiy stand corrected.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
A deal through arbitration can backfire, but usually not for overpaying. The usual culprit is just simply the team taking the risk of guaranteeing those years the players are already under control.
There are examples, sure. I think Arizona would redo the Chris Young deal if they could. But far more often than not, the team gains through the arb years as a reward for accepting all the risk of injury.
It was a good ride, if not great-ish
I think that with the crew that is in place, it will be another good ride in TWENTY-TEN. Not that I feel we’ll get to the Series at this point, but strangers things have happened. Especially with the blue crew.
Division winner again in 2010!
Maybe Santa forgot to drop off a few pitchers but it wasn’t his fault.
Totally off-topic, just wanted to pimp my newest obsession: MLB 09: The Show for PS3. This is as close to a flawless baseball video game that I have ever played. The graphics, player models, ball off the bat, and gameplay “feel” are off-the-charts awesome. I didn’t think I’d find a better game than the old MVP Baseball 2005, but this is on another level. One heck of an X-Mas gift to say the least. :)
PS3
“Totally off-topic, just wanted to pimp my newest obsession: MLB 09: The Show for PS3”
haha.
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Jan 1, 2010 7:16 PM PST up reply actions
PS3. :)
I broke down and bought the system just for that title alone. Well worth it after playing the wretched 2K games on my xbox 360 for years.
How long does it take to play one game typically? I have always stayed away from baseball titles thinking it took too long to play one game.
I guess it depends on your style. I’m very aggressive at the plate, which can lead to quick innings. Taking a lot pitches is kinda boring in a video game. :)
i have same game on PS3
And the game for me takes about 45min, and I dont like to take pitches. I have had my share of 3 or 4 pitch innings :)
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Jan 2, 2010 1:23 AM PST up reply actions
I found baseball games are quicker than football
I could get through 2 or 3 games of MLB the show in the time it took me to play one game of Madden.
But I also throw like all strikes and walk maybe 1 or 2 opponents in a 162 game season.
by Michael White on Jan 2, 2010 8:56 AM PST up reply actions
i do think baseball is quicker than football..
but i cant play 2 or 3 games in the time of 1. Now, it may be because I do 7 min Madden quarters, but still.
And Im the same way with the pitching, if i walk someone, its a miracle.. same on offense :)
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Jan 2, 2010 11:01 PM PST up reply actions
Yea, I use the meter. I tend to put the ball where it is put in play rather quickly. I dont walk guys, they basically get a hit, or make an out in the field. A lot of my starters dont get more than 4 or 5 Ks a game…
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Jan 3, 2010 7:52 PM PST up reply actions
mlb.com ten questions heading into 2010
heres one of them
Is this a make-or-break season for catcher Russell Martin?
Management hasn’t given up on Martin, but it isn’t ignoring his two-year regression. Don’t be surprised if A.J. Ellis gets a lot of playing time in Spring Training, and don’t be surprised if he makes a serious run at Martin’s job. Management likes Ellis’ catch-and-throw tools, and he’s made serious progress the last two seasons offensively. Meanwhile, management has no answers for what’s happened with Martin. His work ethic improved dramatically in ‘09 and his defense was better, but the offense is nowhere near the level of his Silver Slugger season in ’07. With fewer times on base, there are fewer stolen bases, not that it’s expected from a catcher but a unique asset he once displayed. And this being his second season of arbitration, he’ll need to pick it up offensively to justify a salary headed toward $5 million.
http://www.faketeams.com/2010/1/2/1229948/fantasy-baseball-russell-martin-to
I call B.S. If Ellis starts for the Dodgers, then Martin will be traded. Paying a backup catcher 5-6 million is ludicrous.
Agreed.
There’s no way. A.J. Ellis has one major league hit, is 29 years old, and, not coincidentally, is not a prospect.
Russell Martin will, and probably should, be given all of 2010 to see if he can solve his decline. Maybe he won’t and he’ll be replaced… but that will mean one of two things:
1. It won’t be Ellis that replaces Martin
2. Ellis will replace Martin, prove he’s a backup, and then get replaced himself.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Jan 2, 2010 11:06 AM PST up reply actions
"His defense was better?"
Really? Martin did not look good behind the plate to me.
On the other hand, I know nothing about anything, so maybe he was better last year.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Jan 2, 2010 11:02 AM PST up reply actions
Sounds like the guy who wrote this
is trying to trick his friends in his fantasy league to take Ellis.
The only thing that caught
my eye was the Five Million – Eric is kind of on the fringe with his six million, will be interesting if he’s right and the rest of us are wrong. Always fun to be right when you are by yourself.
I have to also call BS, if Torre had any faith in AJ Ellis as a catcher he’d have let him play baseball instead of just with himself during his time with us.
Martin and Loney would be possible non-tender candidates next year if they only replicate their 2009 seasons.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Giants select "sinker baller" Johnson
refering to giants rule 5 selection of orioles steven johnson. formerly of the dodgers…
They called him a sinker baller…. the guy was one of the 5 highest flyball to groundout ratio in the minor leagues!!!! HAAH
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091210&content_id=7792656&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
