http://tinyurl.com/6an64b

Sorry if it's a repost, but I found it very interesting. Just another example of Torre-weirdness.

>>The Dodgers have optioned reliever Scott Proctor to Class AAA Las Vegas after the Joe Torre workhorse has struggled to a 6.82 ERA in 33 games, expressing a good amount of frustration after his last outing.

Right-hander Brian Falkenborg had his contract purchased from Las Vegas, where he was 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA after getting a shot during the spring as a non-roster invitee. Falkenborg, 30, pitched briefly for the Dodgers in 2004 and has 39 big-league appearances under his belt.

To make room for Falkenborg on the 40-man roster, catcher Gary Bennett (plantar fasciitis) has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list.<<

Greg Miller was doing pretty well down there, wasn't he? He couldn't be worse than Proctor.

Even better, Bennett to the 60 day. Transfer him to the 160 day list next, Dodgers.

Will post this in the ticket exchange, thread as well.

I'd like his job, but I'd hate to actually be him. That trades quote Enders focused on in #144 was deadly. It says a lot about Ned's trading abilities that his best deal, by far, was one forced by the owner for raw PR reasons. (The Maddux deal's benefits are undercut by the mistake of letting him go.) Seeing it in print must make him feel like quite the putz. I suspect that might be why the Dodgers have this reputation among GMs as not pulling the trigger. Colletti is a ditherer when dealing with other GMs because he's unsure of what he should do, because he really doesn't have a comfortable sense of how to judge talent. It's not even old vs. new school. There are some successful old school GMs out there, who rise or fall according to a coherent philosophy.

McCourt has picked two GMs. Both were #2s in their previous organizations. Both can be criticized for their inability to assert themselves as strong #1s. Perhaps McCourt, uneasy in his throne, doesn't cotton to strong personalities as GMs. DePo had the smarts and a coherent philosophy, but wasn't an effective infighter. Colletti lacks the smarts, has no philosophy, but is good at making McCourt feel like they're on the same page. The McCourt page.

O-Swing% from Fangraphs, 2008
Martin: 20.26%
Furcal: 23.78%
Loney: 25.87%
Ethier: 26.28%
Kent: 27.74%
DeWitt: 27.87%
Pierre: 29.19%
Kemp: 33.65%

O-Swing%, 2008
Vlad Guerrero: 44.07%
Jeff Francoeur: 36.43%
Chipper Jones: 14.23%
Jack Cust: 10.18%

I think that I read somewhere that McCourt's father was involved in the ownership of the Milwaukee Braves and that as a kid McCourt was around the team. Maybe someone can verify.

I do not underestimate Mr. McCourt. He is doing just about everything that is asked for on this site. He is a very savvy businessman.

I'd have liked to see Miller up here.
Just to see what he can do, since he's out of options next year.

Falkenborg? Um ok.

I'd have liked to have seen him, too, BUT I will say that I can kind of understand why maybe they wouldn't. When you think about their bullpen, it now also includes the very inexperienced Troncoso, as well as Wade, who has been mostly great. Again, not to get into the veterans vs kids thing yet again, but I can see why with a bullpen that right now is very young, except for Saito, why they may want one other experienced guy? Miller's never thrown in the bigs, which is why I'd be excited to see him, but can also wait til a bit later in the year.

As I said above, I wouldn't expect Falkenborg to stick around long unless he's much better than expected.

Pierre, LF
Ethier, RF
Kent, 2B
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
Kemp, CF
DeWitt, 3B
Berroa, SS
Stults, P

Doesn't matter. He NEEDS to stay on the 25-man roster next year or he's gone.

http://6-4-2.blogspot.com/2008/06/msti-on-simers-vs-colletti-cage-death.html

Also, the team was the Boston Braves.

Point is, the Dodgers announced something to the press and then immediately had to do something different. Oops.

>> May caught another strong outing by Suns pitcher James McDonald. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed just one run and three hits in five innings, improving his record to 4-2 and lowering his earned-run average to 3.42. <<

## Around the bases: Scott Elbert pitched three more solid innings of relief Tuesday, allowing a homer and a walk but retiring the other nine batters he faced. ... The Los Angeles Dodgers promoted 22-year-old right-hander Jesus Rodriguez to the Suns from Class A Inland Empire to fill the roster spot of Marlon Arias (shoulder), who was placed on the disabled list Friday ... ##

http://tinyurl.com/6s9rwm

Hiroki Kuroda (shoulder) will pitch in a simulated game Friday and not make his Saturday start, with Chan Ho Park going instead.

Diamond:
After being told he was going to be optioned, [Proctor] revealed his elbow had been bothering him for "close to a month," according to [Torre]. Proctor, who after his last outing vehemently denied being hurt, will undergo a test probably tomorrow. "It happened in New York," Torre said. "'I'm alright, I'm alright.' You love him for his heart...Scotty's that guy who figures in spite of it he can go and get guys out. Has has at times...I don't agree with the thinking (of not reporting injuries). I don't condone that thinking."

TJax:
Proctor was willing to go, but after continuing to press him on the issue of his physical health, only then did Proctor admit that there was a problem with his elbow. "I know it sounds like he just did that to keep from going to the minor leagues," Torre said. "But I checked with (trainer) Stan (Conte), and I think he had the same conversation with (Proctor) late last night."

He should be fined. And demoted anyways.

I hope someone sent it to the McCourts, and all the Dodgers beat writers and concerned columnists.