Giant Preview of a Dodger Sweep
by Phil Gurnee on Sep 3, 2010 11:07 AM PDT
in Team Previews
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PrintNever thought 2010 would come to this. Doing a series preview of the Giants / Dodgers in Sept, and six games separate us with the Giants being the ones looking down at us.
74-60, 2nd place in NL West (Schedule and Results)
View League Standings and Leaders
Manager: Bruce Bochy (74-60)
Scored 593 runs, Allowed 524 runs. Pythagorean W-L: 75-59
I'm going to do this a little differently.
The Giants are the team with the hottest hitting young catcher in baseball while the Dodgers have ... a rod and cripple.
The Giants are the team with a slug 1st baseman while the Dodgers have.......... Loney
The Giants are the team with the CF who has done it all this year while the Dodgers have ..... Kemp
The Giants are the team who acquired two over the hill outfielders at the trading deadline who have put up wOBA of .364 and .376 while the Dodgers have........... Podboy
The Giants have the hottest hitting 2nd baseman in August while the Dodgers have ......... Theriot
The Giants best hitter coming into 2010 has been less then brilliant but he's coming off a hot August while the Dodgers have ........... Blake
So not only have the Dodgers totally underperformed offensive expectations this year but the damn Giants other then Sandoval have totally out performed offensive expectations. It has been a year of juxtaposition as our pitching is doing what many expected the Giant pitching to do.
The Dodgers in August had four starters on the top 30 FIP board while the Giants have......... one
For the season the Dodgers have three starters in the top 15 FIP board while the Giants have ..... Lincecum
Lincecum had an ERA of 7.82 in August.
The Dodgers will be facing Zito, Cain, and Sanchez. For maybe the first time since Tim Lincecum showed up Dodger fans may be lamenting not getting to face him. Barry Zito has been even worse then Lincecum in August. The Dodgers would do well to get off on the right foot and beat Zito tonight.
Many have said we have nothing to play for anymore and that there is no point to watching the rest of the season. If you are not in the pennant race what could be better then making sure the Giants are also watching from the sidelines. We either need to keep the Padres afloat or allow the Rockies to skip by the Giants. The 3rd option is not acceptable.
Since I've pointed out how well the Giant offense has been doing, it may come as a shock that I'm predicting a Dodger sweep. All of those hot Giant bats will find it a tougher go against Billingsley, Lilly, and Kuroda. I want to predict that Loney will lead us in this sweep but we are facing two LHP so that is probably not going to happen. Nor will Andre be part of the equation. I guess Rod Barajas is the only answer.
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Comments
Eric
I was about to write the email, but you did this so, Saturday’s Galaxy game thread is written and ready to be auto-timed. Thanks a bunch
One downfall of SBN LA: can’t schedule posts. Sucks balls.
But I will be around tomorrow morning to post it. Thanks.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 3, 2010 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Why don't you have the same editorial capabilities?
Did SBN outsource the regional site infrastructure to ESPN?
Because it’s a different philosophy, at least I think. As editor, I am like the clearinghouse for all the content, so it is my responsibility to organize it and lay it out. But there should be the ability to schedule posts, that’s for damn sure.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 3, 2010 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions
I think the regional sites are trying to be more like e-magazines, and you wouldn’t want something auto-timed and then a bigger news story breaks or something like that, is my no thought answer
by Josie Becker on Sep 3, 2010 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Loney will be fine against Cain, don't worry
Lindsey will take care of Zito and Sanchez ;)
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 11:14 AM PDT reply actions
"Your ugly with long hair"
Apostrophe, much?
Witty .sig goes here.
by scareduck on Sep 3, 2010 11:14 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?
What is that from, I remember it being from something great
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
from the greatest show ever
The Simpsons
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXesMkAYh44
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?
nice preview
I like it when our rivals are beating us in every position on offense… Appreciate it.
by Julio Nievas on Sep 3, 2010 11:21 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Woo hoo I read the preview! ;-)
(I usually do, just being silly.)
If you are not in the pennant race what could be better then making sure the Giants are also watching from the sidelines.
AMEN.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Funny
http://cubspack.com/2010/09/01/jim-hendrys-to-do-list-this-offseason/
First comment suggests trading for Jerry Sands!
If we don't go they don't go
As sad as this season as been it would be nice to see the Dodgers take them down. It was wonderful a few years ago to see Barry hit his HR’s only to know that the same night the Dodgers had eliminated the Giants from the playoffs.
but forgive me, I have a new kid. :-)
The Loney Question is the Dodgers in a nutshell. He is absolutely not acceptable on a team that lacks power. If the Dodgers want to contend next year, they need a power upgrade, and 1B is the easiest place to find it.
However, the Dodgers also have to find three starting pitchers and, unless you’re satisfied with Podsednik or Paul, an outfielder. That is too many holes to fill while also expecting to make a change at 1B. I’m all for a creative trade, but I’ve yet to see one that really makes the Dodgers a contender next year, unless the core steps up big.
The Dodgers got themselves into this hole in an honorable way, in my opinion. They put everything into pennant runs in ‘08, ’09, and ’10. In ’08 and ’09, it almost worked — the Dodgers ran into a better Phillies team and didn’t get the bounces and it didn’t work out. In ‘10, too many things went wrong. But that’s OK, in a sense — you trade some future chits for a pennant run. If the Dodgers had made the WS last year, which they certainly had a good chance to do, nobody would be complaining. Now we have to pay the price with a few down years. I’m all for making those years as painless as possible, but in my opinion, look to 2012/13 and hope for the best.
In that sense, Loney is a problem that matters not. If we accept that the Dodgers aren’t going anywhere next year, and maybe the next two years, then it doesn’t matter if Loney or anyone else starts at 1B.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
whoops
missed the subject line in my post, which I copied from the last thread when it got NPUTed.
It should have said, “I’m 20 hours late to the party… but forgive me, I have a new kid.”
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Sep 3, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
20 hours
fashionably late
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
new borns, who uses that excuse
just hang the pissing, shitting, crying little bugger on the shower stall.
I keep hearing that 1st base is the easist position to upgrade for power but is it
given today’s constraints?
No Free Agents we can afford like Pena or Berkman who would be the significant upgrades in power. The cost to acquire them would cut into what we could buy in LF or starting pitching.
Tradeable first baseman with Power might be LaRoche. Guys like Overbay are not an upgrade.
So when you make a comment like that, who are suggesting would be
they need a power upgrade, and 1B is the easiest place to find it.this significant upgrade?
and now that I've read the rest of your column
I hate to agree, but I probably do, but I only agree with the consent that I might disagree in November.
express, written consent, or implied, oral consent?
by Eric Stephen on Sep 3, 2010 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions
I actually think Overbay would be just the kind of guy who would be an upgrade. It all depends on cost though.
He has been better than Loney in each of the past three seasons, and could end up getting a short contract like the Huff-Johnson-LaRoche-Branyan crew. If he could be had for $4m or less, that’s precisely the kind of move they should make, especially if Loney can be moved for a pitcher.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 3, 2010 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Short contract at that price would be okay
he was quite awful for April/May, has come back but he’s at an age where he could be done. Still don’t seem him as an upgrade, the only bounty would be what we could get for James. I’d bet more on Jame’s age 27 production then Overbay’s age 34 production.
Who would you go out and get
Looked last night at possible 1b replacements for Loney at comparable prices. Not lots of great choices: Adam La Roche, Ty Wiggington, in house platoon probably makes most sense, or moving Ethier, but then you need another corner outfielder. Wonder if we could get Beltre back and spend the money there, rather than old plodding slow 1st basemen.
ah
yup
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
still only 31,
only less then 500 bats once since he was used as cadaver practice. If he wants I bet he gets four years from someone. Chone Figgins was just last winter.
sorry, this made me have a funny idea
We resign Lilly, get Werth, Beltre, and Konerko. All the ones we gave up return, and bring with them….the title!! ha ha ha………psyke!!
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I didn't comment in that thread either because I was too busy but you basically
summed up my feelings on the matter as well. Loney is likely not going anywhere partially due to needing to upgrade other areas and there not being a glut of superior firstbasemen but obviously if they make a creative trade, then more power (heh) to ‘em. Loney provides other pluses and that he plays a position that seems to require power would would be less egregious if (obviously) he wasn’t on a team lacking power in general. Of course, maybe Jerry Sands will be their next 1B of the future (rather than in the OF) and they could trade Loney for pitching or OF help.
More importantly, congrats on the new Kavula spawn!
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
I’m all for a creative trade, but I’ve yet to see one that really makes the Dodgers a contender next year
In that case, why throw good money after bad? Trade expensive FA’s to be in Ethier, Broxton and Loney for prospects and build for a future. Keeping Loney just because the rest of the team will stick suck even if you upgrade at first base doesn’t make sense to me.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Because trading all the good players will lead to a 90 or 100-loss season.
You and I might say, well, OK, if they’re gonna win 80, what’s the difference between that and 90 or 100 — especially if being so bad puts them in a better position to compete in the future. But I think for the majority of fans, that kind of season represents a disaster and will result in a housecleaning.
It’s a fine line. After seeing what happened in 2005, I think maintaining a Dodger team good enough to ensure stability is a good thing. On the other hand, the Dodgers also need to avoid the 83-win Astro purgatory.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
Well, really, this entire discussion is a hypothetical anyway. Loney has batting average and RBIs, we all know he’s not getting traded.
The suggestions from those advocating trading Loney are aware that it’s not goign to happen.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, yes. This is why the Dodgers are screwed.
Personally, I think the thing to do is trade Ethier, for all the reasons we’ve discussed. But that’s not gonna happen, either.
The Dodgers suck because (a) they financed the 08-09-10 (ha) pennant runs against the future, and (b) the core has taken a step backwards and may not be all that they were cracked up to be.
There’s not really anything that can be done about that combination of factors. There are things they can do to try to make the next good/great Dodger team, in 12/13, better, but it requires making the bad teams in 11 and maybe 12 even worse, to the point that people will demand big changes at the front-office level, and frankly, the Dodgers are unstable enough right now without Colletti’s job being in danger.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
From a production stand point you might be right
but Ned has always said that Loney needs to develop more power, if he looks at the cost benefit of trading Loney to replace one hole while replacing Loney for the same production at near or the same cost it might happen. I don’t think anyone is off limits this winter except Kershaw.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Matt Moore has double digit Ks in 7 of his last 10 starts in High-A. Only a 1.53 ERA during this stretch to boot.
IMO Matt Moore is the best pitching prospect in baseball.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
what team is he the property of?
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Matt Leinart has reportedly opted against pursuing a trade because he believes his best chance to start again this season is to stay in Arizona.
That settles it: he is delusional. Coach Ken Whisenhunt obviously has no use for Leinart, and it’s clear that the two don’t see eye-to-eye. It’s just as clear that the Cardinals are ready to turn the page on their 2006 first-round pick. The organization will continue to explore trades on their own, right up until they release Leinart on Saturday.
Btw
Has anyone noticed Lincecum looks like freakin Voldemort? Just saying.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
looks more like Snape
to me.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
After reading Phil's caption
I think that when he goes bald, he’ll look like JK Simmons.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Sep 3, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
The hair makes him look like snape
But his face is so voldemortish…he just oozes evil.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
Another strange(and hopefully funny) thought from me
seems like the past month or two of the season has been almost like the “Dead Parrot” sketch from Monty Python. The customer is us, and the pet shop owner is the Dodger management.
“This season is no more, it has ceased to be, it has shuffled off the mortal coil, and joined the choir invisible!”
“No no, they’re just slumping, fabulous team the Dodgers, marvolous grit.”
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 12:45 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
The Dodgers wouldn't voom if you put 4 million volts through them
They’re bleedin’ demised!
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
PINING FOR THE FJORDS?!?!
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions
• Ethan Martin, rhp, Dodgers: Pitchers have bad games. It happens—especially when they’re subject to pitching in the California League. But having back-to-back bad games in the same week is an easy way to make the Hot Sheet for the wrong reasons. That’s exactly what Martin did this week, going 0-2, 37.80 over the two starts. In his first game this week, Martin didn’t get out of the second inning, while giving up three runs on four hits (and five walks) against Bakersfield. On Sept. 2, at San Jose, Martin lasted just three innings, while allowing four runs on three hits, with three more walks. Martin has been the poster boy for why teams have reservations about sending pitchers through the California League. On the season, he’s 9-14, 6.35 with 105 strikeouts and 81 walks over 113 innings.
martin
Agree, he sucks but what bearing does the California League have on walking 81 in 113 innings other than trying to avoid the middle of the plate? I guess a three run homer will beat a solo shot any day. So if Martin comes back to the California League next year, is it make or break?
On 1b upgrade
Shake the tree. Trade Loney and move Ethier or Sands to 1b. We have depth in OF for the next year or two thats affordable. Pods,Trayvon and another year of Kemp….more FA action in OF too.
Ethier to first base is an idea I completely agree with
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions
i wouldn't mind ethier to first if they believe sands can be decent in LF
Tray in center, Kemp in right, Sands in left?
decent.
now we just need a third basemen lol.
I’m actually avoiding Sands in this scenario (don’t know what to expect yet.) I feel confident that Tray can play CF better than Kemp which means I’ll deal with his bat in the majors since he is a defensive upgrade at a premium position. Kemp moves to one of the corners, Ethier to first, and the Dodgers sign Crawford or Werth.
Trade Loney for #5 starter (Maholm and Gorzellany were brought up yesterday) and re-sign 2 of Padilla, Kuroda and Lilly. That way you have a year to give Sands more seasoning and make a decision on where he slots when Ethier and Kemp are gone. If Sands is ready next season, you can evaluate if Travyon is passable in CF.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm not sure why you are confident that Tray can play CF
any better then Kemp. If CF was so easy to play it wouldnt’ such a hard position to fill. Just because an AA announcer says he can handle doesn’t mean he can handle it.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Meh, I asked Sickels too. He says it’ll play.
I’m more confident that Trayvon can be above replacement level than Sands next season is really what I’m getting at.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions
If you think Sands
or Lindsay or Mitchell could be above replacement level at first base (or at a corner outfield spot) next season, that’s the move to make.
I’m not so sure.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Am I missing something here or what?
It seems that everyone thinks that Ethier is a below average fielder in RF. But, yet, everyone thinks he would be just fine at 1B. We have bigger fish to fry than this I’m afraid.
It’s first base. The position where you throw the dudes who can’t play anywhere else.
Spending $4+ MM on arguably the worst offensive first baseman the past 3 seasons is not a small problem that can be ignored.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
That's fine but who replaces him
It goes back to my argument from yesterday. Everybody sucks, but we who is the replacement? And Sands if not the fucking answer.
If everybody sucks, you trade arb-eligibles you can’t or don’t want to lock up and rebuild for down the line.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions
You still haven't answered the question as to who replaces these guys.
We’re not the Royals or Pirates for christ’s sake.
If the team is going to suck, it doesn’t matter who replaces them. You trade them to capitalize on their value while preparing for the future. What’s the point of trotting out a crappy team instead of a really crappy team when trading the players on the crappy team can bring you peices for another run in the future?
For the record, I don’t think the team will suck next year and I’ve already made my suggestion for how to move Loney, bring in value, and replace him with Ethier at first. But if the argument is that they team will suck anyway, what’s the point of paying these guys instead fo trading them?
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Don’t what to tell you on that. Acting rich and paying for sub-par production makes the Dodgers stupid. If the opposite of that is being the Royals and Pirates, then I’ll deal.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Paying them is a key with the present ownership?
How many more deferred contracts can the Dodgers award in the future?
Given the negative infornmation coming out now regarding Dodgers team ownership in the divorce proceedings, how many top free agents would want to come to LA when also given the choice of opportunites elsewhere?
by 68elcamino427 on Sep 3, 2010 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions
All the more reason to trade guys like Loney.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions
OT
anyone hear about Mayweather’s comments regarding Pacquiao?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/02/floyd-mayweather-racist-rant_n_703731.html
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?
and yet God Forbid
some one calls him “boy”
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
He does want to step into the ring with him.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions
He does want to step into the ring with him.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Mayweather still has a beef with the proposed split.
Even so, I guarantee that Mayweather would win that fight. No doubt in my mind.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Mayweather will pull his same bullshit, where he shows up to the weigh in over the agree upon weight (and Pacquaio knows this) and will pay the fine and they’ll still box. That result would fare horribly for Paquiao who is already too small to compete against him.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I hear this alot, like any OF can become a 1st baseman
it is not the same as moving an infielder to 1st base. A 1st baseman fields just as many rockets as a 3rd baseman. If they had soft hands and quick feet in the first place maybe they wouldn’t have become corner outfielders. Just using the last 30 years how many outfielders have become decent 1st baseman who played over a 1,000 games in the outfield first? Sure you can move a Dunn but I’m talking about someone who isn’t going to hang an extra errors on Furcal a year.
Berkman comes to mind.
So I decided to look: From 1980 to 2010 these are the outfielders who became 1st baseman that played at least 500 games at 1st base.
Al Oliver
I must be missing someone, any help or is it simply not as easily done as everyone thinks.
Career wise, Loney has the 55th highest OPS+ since 1980. So while season to season he doesn’t stand out, his consistent approach might stand for something. Or not.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
First Baseman since 1980 who have had at least 500 games at 1st base
http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/uxYny
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I was trying to pick the outfielders out of the group
based on memory. Only Al Oliver popped for me that had an OPS+ over 100. Most good hitting first baseman, are surprise, 1st baseman.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I think if Loney was even OPSing 109 lately we’d be okay, but his 103 the last three years sends him down to 73rd, which is the back end of guys who were actually starters, and not just guys who hung around taking backup jobs.
Loney will be paid $4,500,00 next season
The following year $7,000,000
Can Ng can find a platoon that would be as effective without Loney for less?
by 68elcamino427 on Sep 3, 2010 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions
If Loney makes
$7 Million in 2012 wouldn’ t it be because he earned it or we simply giving multi million raises just because.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
… just using the figures on the sidebar …
by 68elcamino427 on Sep 3, 2010 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Eric likes handing out money like it is halloween:)
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
If loney gets 4.5 million next year
So isn’t next year as far as power goes for Loney shit or cut bate. Which is largrly how I think next year is going to be played out for the whole team. If they don’t make it , they will probably blow up the entire team with the exception of some pitching.
What's to blow up?
LF – no power
3B – old guy, due $5,250,000 nest season
SS- can’t stay healthy and $12,000,000 contract next season
2B- no power
1B- no power
CF- .250, 25 HR, ‘still learning to play the game’ porjected at $6,500,000 next season
RF- Current OPS 858 and 20 HR due $9,250,000 next season
C- Damaged right hip, out for the season due $6,500,000 next season
Former Closer – due $7,500,000 next season
and … only $15,000,000+ in deferred money due next seaon as well
But…
there are two starting pitchers in Kersahw and Billingsley.
Other than that everyting is fine.
by 68elcamino427 on Sep 3, 2010 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Picky, but
Kemp is signed through next year at nearly $7M. R. Martin for next season is a projection.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
So if the current owner remains:
Kemp traded ?
Martin non tendered?
Loney traded w/Blake moving to a platoon at first?
Sorry, not overly optomistic today given the present state of affairs :)
by 68elcamino427 on Sep 3, 2010 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions
got a RH in AAA
tearing the cover off the ball
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
OFs to 1B
why 1000 games? That’s a lot, like 6 2/3 seasons at 150 game/season. Andre will have a little over 700 games in the bigs at the end of this year. (Also, your play index search is limited to players who “Played 50% [or more] of games at 1B”. And Al Oliver played about 800 games total in the 1980s.)
Jack Clark probably meets your criteria or comes really close – I’m not going to count to see if he got 1000 games in the OF first, but he certainly was a full-time OF first for a lot of games, then a 1B for a lot of games.
These guys don’t meet your criteria for different reasons, but did start as OFs and played a lot of both: Ryan Klesko, Darin Erstad. Pre-1980 Joe Rudi comes to mind.
Seems you are right that there are very few examples. I guess a lot of 1B get tried in the OF because that’s the only positions for a left-handed thrower.
But Ethier could go back to the OF after a stopgap year at 1B, sort of like Shawn Green did.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Well I never used the 1000 games in my search.
I ended up simply looking at every 1st baseman who has played at least 500 games at 1st to see if any of them had any outfield experience. Darin Erstad was a lousier hitter then Loney so he didn’t exactly jump on to my list.
I’m sure if we cut the number of games down we’d find more outfielders turned into first baseman ala Shawn Green but it does not seem something they get a lot of games in if they never get to 500. Remember they are talking about taking a relative young outfielder like Andre and turning him into a 1st baseman not some 35 year old. Just doesn’t seem to happen as much as they seem to think.
Agree with your conclusion
Al Oliver and Jack Clark are not a large precedent.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
prince fielder
should we trade for him/?? what would be a good package?
prince at first, sands in right, ethier in LF and kemp in center
Come on you know we can't afford him, why start this?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
No, he said he wanted a big bat
not that he’d pay for one.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Back to Python
only now it’s ownership that is dead, debt wise
by 68elcamino427 on Sep 3, 2010 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions
I know the debt is high
but has anyone proven the Dodgers aren’t making money even with that debt load? I guess I need to bone up on the articles. Business Week has a big five page story on it that I’ll hit before the LA Times one.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
or towards collateral
on new loans if he can swing it
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
I understand that
but what is the working cash flow?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Did somebody publish their financials? Honest question as I’m not following the divorce closely at all.
If anybody’s got that, we can get to the bottom of this quickly.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
It wasn't on Josh's site, that I know
And they did not post the financials. It was more of an analysis fo the goings on and what was said in court by the CFO
But why would a CFO testify about something that is so cut and dry? Unless the CPA is commiting fraud, just look at the last audited financial statements. Anybody who’s taken a financial accounting course can tell you if they are making money.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Private company
the financial statements are not available, aren’t we just getting this info from snippets and “people in the know”, other then what has had to be filed for the court. I may be mistaken but I don’t think a complete financial statement has ever been made public.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Nor do I, which I why I was confused about the statements above asserting that the all the cash is going to service debt.
Wasn’t sure if the divorce court released financial statements and that’s where the information was coming from.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Sounds like basic conjecture based
on the size of the debt. I’m not sure everyone has grasped that while the debt service is huge, the Dodgers have grown revenue quite a bit since the day McCourt bought the team.
Anyway if any new information is in the Business Week article, I’ll share.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Excerpts from
the LA Times (Shaikin and Reckard). Draw your own conclusion, and/or find more nuggets:
Under McCourt ownership, the Dodgers’ revenue has nearly doubled — from $156 million in 2003 to $286 million last year, according to court documents.
“Every dollar he makes is going to pay his debts,” said Raman Sain, a principal at Holthouse Carlin and Van Trigt, the largest accounting firm based in Southern California. The firm, with $59 million in annual revenue and 250 employees, analyzed tens of thousands of pages of documents filed in the divorce case for The Times.
Sain calculated that the Dodgers had $29 million in free cash before debt service last year and said virtually all of it went toward interest payments, hampering the team’s ability to acquire players.
The Dodgers generated $72 million in operating revenue last year but had a net profit of $8.4 million, largely because of $28 million in debt service and $34 million in revenue-sharing payments.
The debt is not projected to drop significantly until at least 2013. The Dodgers’ business plan is based on selling 3.8 million tickets every season, a number the club has hit once in six years. The team is projected to sell 3.6 million tickets this year, based on current attendance.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
29 Million seems awful light for
revenues of 286 Million before debt service. Not to be skeptical but I’d bet that the rental to Blueland was considered an expense before debt service. I’m sure many other “expenses” that end up in Frank’s purse could be found if they only had 29 Million left to work with to pay debt expense. Plus “virtually” can mean anything. Is that 1 Million or 10 Million? Why use the word instead of the actual amount?
No I got nothing
the business week article looks very much like Molly’s ESPN story. Nothing new in there so the latest stuff was the LA Times story.
If it was all going to interest
Then they are not making money.
Interest expense is an above the line expense.
by Michael White on Sep 3, 2010 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions
they said it was more likely
he’d trade for one.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
(shrugs)
that’s just what the article Gurnick wrote said.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Link
Colletti has already agreed that a big bat is a high priority this winter, and he’s probably more likely to land one via trade than free agency, but he also needs a starting catcher (Russell Martin was a question mark even before breaking his hip) and possibly a third baseman (Casey Blake is 37 and might be eased into a bench role).
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions
teams that can't afford them
or have a few of them and have a glaring need elsewhere.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Totally OT:
I just walked by my front door and saw the overweight, older Chinese woman accross the street bending over to pull weeds in her spandex pants.
Damn my eyes
rub salt into your eyes to banish the this vision
by 68elcamino427 on Sep 3, 2010 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
There's an old couple down my street
where the man likes to tend his garden just wearing a towel. It’s surreal.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
I was thinking I'd have to listen to Joe Morgan on Sunday
now I’m going to the game. I’ve already won.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
saw that
also a guy in the Braves Org did the same thing, just got called up.
Lindsey next?
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
You seem to have taken over the Lindsey train…I like it!
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
I figure
we’re not going anywhere, let this guy fufill his dream. Even if it’s just one game.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 3, 2010 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Your 1B Platoon?
John Lindsay?
Jay Gibbons?
only costs about $800,000 for the both of them
by 68elcamino427 on Sep 3, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I say just give 1B to Lindsey and see what he can do. If he’s any good, try him there in ST next year and if he’s good again trade Loney and use Lindsey, lol.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
I'm not on any Lindsey train unless it is a Lindsay Soto train
but it would be cool for the Dodgers to promote him.
by meercatjohn on Sep 3, 2010 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Lindsey's train
runs on a track. Is it the C train or the D train?
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Watch out where you point those things, you could put an eye out :P
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
Ok, I thought I was done, but I guess not
There is a reason a 33 year old is still not in the show! Yes, he has mashed this year, but 33 year olds don’t magically become major leaguers overnight. I’ve got a guy on my softball team who can rake and plays a decent first base, let’s give him a shot while we’re at it.
If he can hit I'm all for it
You don’t seem to get that this is the point I am at, lol.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
Love the preview format this time
Nicely done. The success of the Giant offense is sickening. I hope they regress to the mean really soon with a mighty thud.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Barajas, Billingsly the answers?
What did you do fly to the future and come back and write this?
Dodgers also showed some of there 2009 tricks by getting walks and turning them into runs.
Let’s hope Lilly and Kuroda also come through.
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