Saturday Dodger Links: Fox Gave Frank McCourt Loot, Why Pat Borders Got The Boot, & More
by Eric Stephen on Jan 15, 2011 10:06 AM PST
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PrintTuesday is the day in which teams and players will exchange salary figures for arbitration, so for the Dodgers that means Chad Billingsley, James Loney, and Hong-Chih Kuo are close to new contracts. If recent history is any guide, those three will be signed to new deals by Tuesday, rather than go through with an arbitration hearing. So, while we wait for these deals to get done, here are some links for a Saturday:
Fox Advances Frank McCourt Cash
Bill Shaikin (now on Twitter, by the way) of the Los Angeles Times has been all over the McCourt divorce story and how it affects the Dodgers. He reported that the Dodgers got a cash advance from Fox, borrowing money against their current TV deal, to cover current operating expenses. The key excerpt here is this:
It is unclear whether the cash advance indicates the Dodgers are in immediate financial peril, but a sports industry consultant said the timing was curious, given that team expenses are lower out of season than during the season.
There is a lot of unknown information here. It is concerning that if the Dodgers are having trouble paying expenses now, how will they make ends meet during the season, when player salaries need to be paid. Then again, revenue is likely much higher during the season as well.
Also, Shaikin gave us the details for the Fox television deal, that the Dodgers will receive $35 million in 2011, $37 million in 2012, and $39 million in 2013. That's good information to have going forward as a baseline for a new TV deal going forward. Keep in mind that the Texas Rangers this offseason signed a 20-year deal with Fox Sports Southwest worth a reported $80 million per season. However, the Rangers offer their full schedule to Fox Sports Southwest, compared to the Dodgers, who have roughly one third of their games on KCAL.
The Pat Borders Release
Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts asked the question on all of our minds: why did the Dodgers just now release Pat Borders when he hasn't played since 2006? The answer:
"He had voluntarily retired with us, so he was still in our organization," [Dodgers VP of Communications Josh] Rawitch said. "He accepted a minor league coaching job in another organization, so we had to activate him and release him (per MLB) so he could sign his staff contract."
Dodger Night At Staples Center
On Thursday, it was Dodgers Night at Staples Center as the Kings hosted the St. Louis Blues Roberto Baly of Vin Scully Is My Homeboy has plenty of pictures here and here.
Kuo Bobblehead
The Dodgers announced Friday that Tuesday, June 14 against the Reds will be Hong-Chih Kuo Bobblehead Night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have six bobblehead giveaways this season: Clayton Kershaw (May 17), Don Mattingly (June 1), Kuo (June 14), Andre Ethier (July 7), Fernando Valenzuela (July 26), and TBD (August 9).
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I demand Kuo Batflip Bobblehead.
Proud member of the "We love Chad" society.
by Corncake on Jan 15, 2011 10:12 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
TBD
Chad!!!! I want a Chad bobblehead.
Also, Hall and Oats pandora. Yes.
TBLAck Widow and Standard Bearer of the "We Love Chad" Society
by Maddz on Jan 15, 2011 10:29 AM PST via mobile reply actions
I contend a Chad bobblehead fails to represent him
It must be bobble thighs.
Fernanado~!
I need a new one. I dropped my old one and part of the bill of his cap was chipped away. ARRIBA Fernanado! And gotta get the Kershaw and Kuo bobbleheads!
by The Real Pancho on Jan 15, 2011 10:30 AM PST reply actions
Most
Estimates I have seen say the Dodgers get about $10M a year from KCAL so the Dodgers make an average of $47M for local TV rights.
One thing to remember as well is that the Fox deal is artificially low, as it was part of the purchase deal to basically pay pennies on the dollar for the broadcast rights. Odds are good at worst, any new deal would have them making something around what the Rangers are pulling in, at least (combined, assuming they still show some games on KCAL/some other local station).
Think thats mostly common knowledge around here at this point, but its relevant to the conversation, so hey :)
So if income is not the problem with the Dodgers, why are they seeking cash advances?
Deferred player contracts, now cash advances.
Leverage, leverage, leverage.
Very appropriate photo of McCourt.
by 68elcamino427 on Jan 15, 2011 10:58 AM PST up reply actions
I never said income wasn't a problem
Just that what they’re making now in the Fox deal – whatever the high water mark is – is artificially low as part of the purchase deal.
Odds are good that the team makes good money and could be totally profitable with a $120 Mil+ payroll, but with so much of the gross going towards paying off loans – to say nothing of supporting the McCourts lifestyle – its barely treading water, or maybe not even that.
Excellent response. This is the point.
by 68elcamino427 on Jan 15, 2011 11:10 AM PST up reply actions
I
Still have a hard time believing the Dodgers could get more than 60-65 million for their TV rights without the team investing into the regional network.
by bhsportsguy on Jan 15, 2011 11:00 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Who ever figured out that you can make men want to play with dolls if you put their head on a Spring is the smartest person in the world.
@andrewngrant
And get the guy to pay $30 for his ticket, then redeeming it for a $2 trinket :)
by 68elcamino427 on Jan 15, 2011 10:53 AM PST up reply actions
I tickets to Kemp bobblehead night and one of my friends couldn’t make it, but he wanted us to get him a bobblehead. Cue me standing in the parking lot for 15 minutes after the game offering 10 bucks for one, and not one person selling.
People love their bobbleheads.
@andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Jan 15, 2011 10:59 AM PST up reply actions
heh
Got my Kemp Bobblehead.
On Manny Bobblehead Night, the parking was terrible, all the Manny Bobbleheads had been distributed, so I went and stood in line to get my name on a mailing list while the game was underway. Returned to my seat just as Manny hit the Home Run. And I did get my Manny Bobblehead in the mail.
Yes the guy who figured out this idea is pretty damn smart.
by 68elcamino427 on Jan 15, 2011 11:08 AM PST up reply actions
It has long been established
that with the right accessories dolls are very palatable to males.
I must not fear .Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain
I must not fear .Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain
Agreed
He is a machine. There is rarely a Dodger event in LA (or many times, even outside of LA) that he misses.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 15, 2011 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
You should recruit him as the TBLA person around town
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
This is going to sound weird
but I kind of feel bad for Frank.
TBLAck Widow and Standard Bearer of the "We Love Chad" Society
Jaimie
certainly comes off worse to me.
I must not fear .Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain
I don’t feel bad for them. They spent much of the revenue the Dodgers received on their personal items. That it came and bite in the ass is something they should have (and perhaps did) foreseen.
Who buys $100 million in housing property and not in the real estate business?
I just meant
that she kind of seems like a ****(let your imagination run wild!)
I must not fear .Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain
Guys let’s not argue.
They’re both terrible people.
@andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Jan 15, 2011 11:49 AM PST up reply actions
Being nice here, they are both flawed and their weak points have been exposed :)
by 68elcamino427 on Jan 15, 2011 12:02 PM PST up reply actions
Let’s agree to disagree :)
@andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Jan 15, 2011 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
I have a hard time believing
the dodgers/frank mccourt have the clout to convince other teams to leave fox sports and join them in setting up a new network.
I must not fear .Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain
Can they outbid fox though?
Can they offer the same production values and whatnot? The attitude just seems to be the Dodgers should do it because the Yankees did it, but no one ever seems to think about it beyond that.
I must not fear .Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain
Sands
one step closer to getting me that beer
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Short time reader, first time commenting
that is all
Man I still have my Eric Gagne/Brian Jordan/Fred McGriff bobbleheads
I think it was from ’03 or around that. Liking Eric Gagne goes without saying. Jordan just because of the 2 sport thing and I liked McGriff because of his nickname haha. Simple reasons but I was 14 or so at time. I have 2 of each, 3 in a box and 3 on my shelf admiring my blown up picture of Jackie Robinson stealing home.
Frank McCourt now = Roger Dorn circa Major League II
“I’m on my ass. I’m tapped out. I’m not gonna be able to make next month’s payroll.”
“But I didn’t sell Parkman Kemp outright. I got you an outfielder. He used to play for the Giants!”
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