Sounds like fun, I asked Nancy for more info.

Diamond Leung notes that James Adkins got promoted to Jacksonville today. His numbers arent very pretty so I wonder what the thinking is behind it.

3 Trade bait?

Nobody's numbers are very pretty in the Cal League. There's probably a good chance that his stats will be better at Jacksonville even though it's a more advanced league.

Adkins is precisely the kind of prospect Colletti should be dangling if he is bent on making a trade. Not that he alone is worth anything, but put him in a package with a couple of other similarly-ranked guys and that should be enough for the "solid acquisition" Colletti says he wants to make. I mean, the Brewers just got Ray Durham for two prospects who wouldn't make our Top 20, so if we want to rent Casey Blake for the same two months, it shouldn't cost us much more than the price for Durham. Which is one reason why I think the stuff about LaRoche being "showcased" is nonsense. Reportedly, Colletti was willing to give up LaRoche for Sabathia. Sabathia would have been a "big splash." Now that Ned has ruled out a big splash, I think it means we are looking to move minor pieces at best -- Lucas May, Adkins, Xavier Paul, Josh Wall, maybe Jonathan Meloan and Jesus Castillo.

My wife sent me to the January Camp for my 40th birthday. Best week of my life. If you have ever played the game and this is the team you love...this experience will exceed your expectations in every single way.

I could write forever telling the stories, laughs, glories and follies, but I dont have that kind of time. So you get the bullet list of really cool things about the camp

1. Everybody is really great. Everybody.
2. You get to hang with Dodger greats (I have an email from Maury Wills in my inbox today!).
3. Steve Yeager, if he is there, is salty and funny and right out of central casting. He was my manager and there is nothing I wouldn't do for him.
4. Your job is to play baseball. You have time for nothing else but baseball. All the thoughts of day to day life Poof gone.
5. You are treated like a baseball player. Batting practice with white balls, well groomed fields, a training staff to keep you playing, good food and lots of it.
6. Your teammates. Being on a real team again, not some quasi corporate mojo BS team, but a real team - need I say more?
7. The tired feeling as you crawl into bed. That honest feeling you had as a kid knowing that you exhausted yourself playing ball.
8. The minor league coaches and trainers. These guys love the game and it is infectious. They dont make big bucks but boy do they love baseball. John Shoemaker of Jacksonville needs to be called up on Torre's staff!
9. Winning! We won a key game in the 11th inning - I still find myself remembering my hit in the rally inning
10. I love baseball again as I loved it as a kid. I can't explain it other than that.

That book you are doing about things every Dodger fan must do before they die? This has to be top 3.

Happy to answer any questions - players of all levels come to the camp and have a great time

HJ