True Blue LA: FanShots

An appreciation of Charlie Steiner

2009-11-07T01:54:07Z

An appreciation of Charlie Steiner

Clipster Hipster discovers that Charlie just might be the guy to lead the Dodgers out of the tunnel.

Boras: Manny To Return

2009-11-07T00:20:49Z

Boras: Manny To Return

Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times brings the news that, as reported last week, Manny Ramirez will exercise his $20 million option, and return to the Dodgers, according to his agent, Scott Boras.

Six front-office employees who were hired by former Dodgers vice president Charles Steinberg were...

2009-11-06T07:27:00Z

Six front-office employees who were hired by former Dodgers vice president Charles Steinberg were fired. They were public relations officers Mark Rogoff and Drew Merle, vice president of creative services Tom Catlin, graphics manager Courtney Cowsill, fan services and hospitality director Jahaan Blake and supervisor of the Ambassadors program Alyssa Shuman.

Steinberg, who was hired by Jamie McCourt, was essentially fired by the team last month by her estranged husband, owner Frank McCourt.

L.A. Times

Wolf, Hudson are Type A Free Agents

2009-11-06T03:29:38Z

Wolf, Hudson are Type A Free Agents

The Elias free agent rankings have been released and, as expected, the Dodgers have two Type A free agents -- Randy Wolf and Orlando Hudson. Ken Gurnick dropped the news today, which confirms the projections from Eddie Bajek, who has been tracking these rankings all year.

The Dodgers' Type B free agents are Ronnie Belliard, Jon Garland, Guillermo Mota, Will Ohman, and Vicente Padilla.

If offered arbitration, Type A free agents net two compensatory picks: a first rounder (most of the time) plus a supplemental pick in between the first and second rounds. Type B free agents only net a supplemental pick.

Provide your own scouting report on the Dodgers

2009-11-06T01:06:54Z

Provide your own scouting report on the Dodgers

Tango Tiger takes an annual fan survey of the fielding skills of major-league baseball players. Many TBLA members are quite qualified to provide useful insight to this survey. Follow the link above to read the brief instructions, then follow the link there to the Dodgers page.

Angels Re-Sign Bobby Abreu

2009-11-05T22:37:31Z

Angels Re-Sign Bobby Abreu

According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, the Angles have re-signed outfielder Bobby Abreu to a two year, $19 million contract with a $9 million vesting option for 2012 (and a $1 million buyout). It seems like a fairly steep price for a 35 year old who doesn't play good defense or hit for power, but he is still great at getting on-base. I think it's a probably a pretty safe deal for both sides but if the Angels had waited to see how the free-agent market shaped up they likely could have gotten Abreu for a cheaper price.

Here is the tentative 2010 spring training schedule for Camelback Ranch, home of the Dodgers and...

2009-11-05T17:05:15Z

Here is the tentative 2010 spring training schedule for Camelback Ranch, home of the Dodgers and White Sox.

Hilarious video of Trayvon Robinson (aka Prospect #9) and the 66ers taking on the Lake Elsinore...

2009-11-04T19:30:17Z

Hilarious video of Trayvon Robinson (aka Prospect #9) and the 66ers taking on the Lake Elsinore Storm gorilla mascot from July.

Thanks to hirambocachica for the link.

True Blue LA Welcomes David Young aka El Lay Dave

2009-11-04T18:36:58Z

True Blue LA Welcomes David Young aka El Lay Dave

David Young, who has posted under the name "El Lay Dave" for years both here and at Dodger Thoughts, has been kind enough to join us here at True Blue LA as an Editor. You may remember him from such posts as:

Just How Good is the Dodger Bullpen?
OR
Are Matt Kemp's HR Less Valuable?

Dave, as he has demonstrated through the years, will bring his unique mix of intelligence and humor to his posts. We are glad to have such a great Dodger fan and friend on board, so please welcome him aboard with Open Arms.

After getting accidentally shot in the leg, I'm going to begin to suggest that Vicente Padilla will...

2009-11-04T16:44:55Z

After getting accidentally shot in the leg, I'm going to begin to suggest that Vicente Padilla will play for the Brewers under Dick Cheney, er, Ken Macha.

Mattingly Withdraws From Nationals; Being Groomed For Torre Succession?

2009-11-04T03:45:02Z

Mattingly Withdraws From Nationals; Being Groomed For Torre Succession?

Don Mattingly has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Nationals' managing job, declining to interview with Washington, according to Alden Gonzalez and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. They speculate:

"The move could be an indication that Mattingly and the Dodgers are making progress on a new contract that would formalize his succeeding current manager Joe Torre, who has one year remaining on his contract."

Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly has declined to interview for the Nationals' opening for...

2009-11-04T03:07:00Z

Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly has declined to interview for the Nationals' opening for manager, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti confirmed through a team spokesperson on Tuesday.

Gurnick and a co-writer then speculate that "The move could be an indication that Mattingly and the Dodgers are making progress on a new contract that would formalize his succeeding current manager Joe Torre"

Vicente Padilla shot in leg

2009-11-04T01:59:04Z

Vicente Padilla shot in leg

What all the reports agree on is that Vicente Padilla took a bullet. That's after he took all those shots from the Phillies bats.

From Diamond Leung's blog via Dodger Thoughts.

This speaks for itself. Thank to Dodger Thoughts and TBLA commenter Underdog for the link to...

2009-11-04T01:51:16Z

This speaks for itself.

Thank to Dodger Thoughts and TBLA commenter Underdog for the link to Diamond Leung's blog.

Aaron had an oblique strain so we took him off the roster.

2009-11-03T16:37:38Z

Aaron had an oblique strain so we took him off the roster.

From Josh Rawitch regarding why Aaron Miller is no longer on the AFL Roster

Dan Szymborski of Baseball Think Factory created this as a response to this post. 5. Jolly Old St....

2009-11-02T16:35:25Z

Dan Szymborski of Baseball Think Factory created this as a response to this post.

5. Jolly Old St. Nick (now, with Screen Name history) Posted: November 02, 2009 at 07:34 AM (#3374366) None of the above. The L.A. Times just has a realistic assessment of the attention span of the average West Coast reader. By next year their stories are likely to be exclusively in cartoon format. /strong>

The Oracle’s Amazing Time Machine: The Future of Bill Plaschke’s Column

Ethier voted Clutch award winner

2009-10-31T15:34:53Z

Ethier voted Clutch award winner

Ethier has cost the Dodgers 35.6 runs with the glove.

2009-10-30T21:25:19Z

Ethier has cost the Dodgers 35.6 runs with the glove.

A Fangraphs story on Andre Ethier's defense

"Despite the fact everyone knows the credit markets are challenging, we're fully expecting to move...

2009-10-30T18:51:37Z

"Despite the fact everyone knows the credit markets are challenging, we're fully expecting to move forward with the project," [Dodgers VP Josh] Rawitch said. The Dodgers have been working with city leaders to review and approve the project, which will help determine when the club can break ground. Finishing all three phases by 2012 is unrealistic at this time, Rawitch told SBD.

Dodger Stadium renovation plans have been put on hold, per SportsBusiness Daily.

(from yahoo sports) Tommy at Game 2 of the world series?? guess he forgot the dodgers got...

2009-10-30T03:40:09Z

(from yahoo sports)

Tommy at Game 2 of the world series??
guess he forgot the dodgers got eliminated....or hes trying to mug victorino...