I was referencing a callup of DeJesus in the last thread. Is it too early to bring up DeJesus who just entered AA? If Furcal is out the rest of the season, what are the Dodgers' other options?

The last thing I want is a PVL trade for ANOTHER short term SS...

529 While I wouldn't count on him {Furcal}, I wouldn't say that yet either. If he actually needs back surgery for his disc, then it would probably take 8-12 weeks to recovery from what I've been told about that kind of surgery so that would, yeah, knock him out for the year. Unless, perhaps he'd be back if the Dodgers make the playoffs! :-)

One step at a time, I guess.

--
Nice piece on Carlos Santana (the catcher) up on PE.com.

But... you're the doctor! ;-)

Will the debut be with the Dodgers?

Yea, that's probably right- just seemed like since this happened at the end of last year and then again early this year that he was maybe already in "last resort" territory... Conditioning is probably always the best way, but Raffy doesn't seem like the type to be out of shape. He's looks like a ball of muscle. Of course this is hindsight, its just getting old watching the DL every year.

Furcal had several reasons to want to avoid surgery, some money related since it is a contract year but also I just think he wants to play.

Man, if they did want PVL SS, I'd love Jack Wilson, but don't think he's available.

9 I hear ya on that.

Underdog, thx for your responses. No, I have a PC (which at times should be abbreviation for "pretty crappy," but then that's probably due mostly to Microsoft).

For me no problems with audio. IF video will play, audio works. But best I usually can get is a message "your video will begin shortly." But then it rarely does.

Technology is great--when it works. I predict a bright future for programmers as long as new versions of things are put forward, since there most always are bugs-- fleas even--not to mention even newer and "improved" versions of things to program.

I tend to be of the "if it ain't broke" school, but then I'm probably a dinosaur who just doesn't get it. Specifically, I don't "get" dodgers.com video on the new site. Naturally video was just fine on the old one.

Letting him play everyday will be valuable experience for the next few years.

I dont think DeJesus can learn much more at the minor league level. His pitch recognition is fantastic as is. Its not like facing minor league pitching is going to help him develop more power.

DFA Berroa (Should have never been here in the 1st place).

Call up DeJesus. At the very least, the Dodgers can bat him 8th and its likely he'll draw a ton of cheap walks given that spot and his patience.

Torre's lineup was the best in a while last night. Like bunching the best hitters at the top, and the worst at the bottom. Hopefully he plays that lineup the rest of the way till the All-Star Break.

There's no need to play DeWitt, Repko, Berroa anymore. Keep them on the bench.

LaRoche has to be given at least 100 straight ABs to get in a groove.

Management and everybody else was surprised at what DeWitt was able to do at first,and for a good while, tho pitchers apparently have caught onto him.

That might make mgt a little more likely to "take a chance" on DeJesus.

The Diamondbacks placed Snyder on the 15-day DL Tuesday with a left testicular fracture.

De Jesus has put up impressive plate discipline numbers but otherwise, he in no way compares to those two players. He has only played a little more than 3 years in the minors.

http://tinyurl.com/4lq7dr

Houston Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui, will start the 2008 campaign on the disabled list after having surgery on Monday to repair an anal fissure.

Of course they don't play much anymore in NL West parks or in DS at night.

Milton Bradley has 16 HR, which leads to a question about him which was difficult to answer from 2000 miles away at the time he exited the team--

Had he completely burned all bridges in LA, or was there some chance he could have been kept? IIRC, Ned said he understood there was no point in trying to convince Bradley to remain, so he didn't try to.

Not really intending to dis Ned, but shouldn't a good executive at least make a good faith effort to retain known talent? Bradley might have responsed favorably to a phone call offering a clean slate which said I'll just go on what I see, not what I've heard. But Bradley and the Dodgers may have been point of no return. I just never had a real good read on that.

Sure, Bradley's volatile and there proably would have been other incidents. But if he were still here, wonder how he'd respond to Torre and his reputation for handling players well?

Wilson for a B- prospect is a reasonable deal for someone.

Still, I'd love to add him if Furcal is out for year and the Dodgers are still in the race, which it appears they will be.

Did he ever...?

A couple years ago, Michael Barrett had a problem after trying to catch a foul ball with his groin.

That got a lot of hits for the Griddle when I posted it.

(They're knights of the round table, they catch when'er able, etc.)

Today is July 2nd, so the International Signing Period opens. I have a feeling it's going to be an unusually big day for the Padres.

I'll post again when we have official news.

Posted by Paul DePodesta at 8:29 AM

52 I agree with this also, throw him out there, see what he's got, and start the pool for his next injury date.

Bad at judging Milton Bradley's talent that is.

http://itmightbedangerous.blogspot.com/2008/07/enjoy-padres-fans-enjoy.html

Somewhat under the radar, the Padres have ramped up their efforts (and their budget) internationally over the past couple of years under the guidance of Randy Smith

No word on Randy's tan.

Nomar just looks good compared to the other SS's, and Mark Sweeney. Jones we know what his potential is. We know the team needs more power. I don't think anyone's forgotten how atrocious he was. But hope springs eternal! Furcal to me was the main savior of the season so it's sad if he's going to be out a lot longer.

Even though I want the SS job to go to DeJesus for 2009, having Jack Wilson around for 2009 might not be too bad. And I'm sure his club option would not be exercised in 2010.

Hu for Wilson isnt bad. Its too bad Hu didnt hit any, or else he could have been packaged with another player for something better. But right now, Hu for Wilson may be the best the Dodgers can do right now.

If the Dodgers do that trade, then it basically tells Furcal they have no interest in resigning him. It'd be a gross misuse of funds to have a 7mil dollar backup SS on the roster for 2009.

Addition by subtraction (of Pierre and Beraza).

---

68 - Obviously, I agree. But I don't think Hu would be enough at this point. I'd be scared at who else the Dodgers would have to throw in.

I guess his development at the plate trails that of Cesar Izturis at the same age - Izturis peaked at ages 24-25 - but it's still hard for me to believe.

If that is Hu's upside, I'd deal him now.

Plus, it makes it much easier with DeJesus in the fold.

Hu's never really had much plate discipline in the minor leagues, and its doubtful he'll hit for much power. Great glove, cant hit a lick SS's are a dime a dozen.

I agree with you Reg except this is the Pirates we're talking about, and they love Wilson, and Hu's value is as I said lower than it should be right now. But we'll see.

Okay, it's fun playing amateur GM but I should do some work.

65 I'd buy that argument except for the Julio Lugo precendent.

Its like you said---> How can you be willing to pay a Loaiza, but not pay a draftee?

The money is still coming from the McCourts.

Well then they need to re-examine how they allocate their funds because by spending more initially and getting the premium talent into your system, you won't have to overspend for over the hill veterans and wind up with 80 million on the disabled list.

Its a good outlet for me to complain about it.

We are talking about the Dodgers, right? We will spare no expense for mediocrity.

And then you would start weeping.

94 Agreed, but mediocrity isn't bad compared to Angel Berroa.

Last year we wound up with Proctor. That didn't turn out so badly, because I think Betemit is overrated.

"If you spend $5 million on one [international] player, you're crazy," White said. "Take the $5 million, give it to five players and you might end up with more major league players.

"I'm not going to go and spend money and give someone $500,000 if we don't think the talent is there. I don't believe in throwing around money trying to beat competition. That's not scouting."

http://tinyurl.com/2uvzpx

Then where are the results!??!

The times said we signed one player already...

_________
Today is the first day clubs can sign international free agents who will turn 16 after Aug. 1, and the Dodgers are hopeful of reaching terms with at least a half-dozen prospects in the Dominican Republic, said Ralph Avila, the team's advisor of Latin American scouting and player development.

"We've got seven kids we really like," Avila said.

The Dodgers have already signed one Dominican teenager, landing 16-year-old pitcher Jose Morillo, whose fastball currently is about 90 mph. Avila projects him to throw harder as he grows.
___________

I can't find Jose Morillo on any lists.

Sorry to have to back a ways. Had to attend to some other stuff--sacrilege, I know. DT is far more important. :)

I thought my question in 36 might be misinterpreted. Everyone recognizes Bradley's talent, and has for a long time. The obvious question is if you can live with/control his antics.

I wasn't criticizing Ned, unless as reported at the time he didn't even talk to Bradley except to tell him he'd been traded. It might have been unworkable anyhow--too much water under the bridge, etc. I wanted to know if Bradley staying really had no chance of working.

It's Dodger history now anyhow.

Full Name: Wilson Betemit
Born: 11/02/1981
Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height: 6'3" Weight: 230
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
College: N/A
MLB Debut: 09/18/2001

Allyoucaneat Smorgas Board...?

Yhency Brazoban, who has been on the DL for nearly a month now with shoulder inflammation, is starting a rehab assignment in the Gulf Coast League.

Purely by coincidence, someone pointed me to an article in the New Yorker magazine about the brain's role in perception and sensation that is at turns fascinating, disgusting, and revelatory. It is a bit lengthy, but I recommend you read it if you have the time.

http://tinyurl.com/44lb6e

One snippet from the article had me thinking that Furcal should be re-evaluated before he undertakes any kind of surgery, as it could be his condition is brain-related:

"Such findings open up a fascinating prospect: perhaps many patients whom doctors treat as having a nerve injury or a disease have, instead, what might be called sensor syndromes. When your car's dashboard warning light keeps telling you that there is an engine failure, but the mechanics can't find anything wrong, the sensor itself may be the problem. This is no less true for human beings. Our sensations of pain, itch, nausea, and fatigue are normally protective. Unmoored from physical reality, however, they can become a nightmare: M., with her intractable itching, and H., with his constellation of strange symptoms—but perhaps also the hundreds of thousands of people in the United States alone who suffer from conditions like chronic back pain, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint disorder, or repetitive strain injury, where, typically, no amount of imaging, nerve testing, or surgery manages to uncover an anatomical explanation. Doctors have persisted in treating these conditions as nerve or tissue problems—engine failures, as it were. We get under the hood and remove this, replace that, snip some wires. Yet still the sensor keeps going off.

So we get frustrated. "There's nothing wrong," we'll insist. And, the next thing you know, we're treating the driver instead of the problem. We prescribe tranquillizers, antidepressants, escalating doses of narcotics. And the drugs often do make it easier for people to ignore the sensors, even if they are wired right into the brain. The mirror treatment, by contrast, targets the deranged sensor system itself. It essentially takes a misfiring sensor—a warning system functioning under an illusion that something is terribly wrong out in the world it monitors—and feeds it an alternate set of signals that calm it down. The new signals may even reset the sensor.

This may help explain, for example, the success of the advice that back specialists now commonly give. Work through the pain, they tell many of their patients, and, surprisingly often, the pain goes away. It had been a mystifying phenomenon. But the picture now seems clearer. Most chronic back pain starts as an acute back pain—say, after a fall. Usually, the pain subsides as the injury heals. But in some cases the pain sensors continue to light up long after the tissue damage is gone. In such instances, working through the pain may offer the brain contradictory feedback—a signal that ordinary activity does not, in fact, cause physical harm. And so the sensor resets.

This understanding of sensation points to an entire new array of potential treatments—based not on drugs or surgery but, instead, on the careful manipulation of our perceptions."

Whenever a team in a playoff spot has a worse record than the Mets, it's apparently a crime against humanity.

why? All scouting reports say he is plus defensively.

But...

To repeat: No one has said anything official about Furcal having surgery. People are just speculating.

MLB.com "Furcal has a bulging disk in his lower back. Although he has been reluctant to discuss the possibility of surgery, that often is the course of action when conservative measures such as core strengthening do not resolve nerve pain...."

Bradley is a few years older now, perhaps a bit more mature, but let's not forget, he's also missed a lot of time because of injuries since the Dodgers traded him.

This is a good situation for him. He likes the Texas manager. He gets to DH and play in a very good hitter's park alongside some good hitters.

I'd give Ned a B, maybe a B-plus for that trade. And I think that deal also may have brought some financial savings.