The Dodgers can win with this team, especially if the bench includes Andruw Jones, at least until he shows that he has regained something approaching his old form (and even then, I would stick with the trio in the OF). As Kemp and Ethier showed last night, the younger guys can hit smart and well.

I agree about SS, if there is no offense upgrade available (without great expense), bring back Hu.

I posted this at end of previous thread;

Thanks Eric and BH, both very helpful (for your posts on the Dodgers FA situation/draft picks).

And to DRatt: Hee. No worries! I figured. (Er, sorry about the teen-car struggles, though.) And that emoticon for Jason Johnson was a crying face. And I guess that jinxed things in his favor. Sorry, JJJ! You pitched great, buddy.

(And I'm with Jon, it's hard not to feel good about Johnson's comeback, even if it's likely short-lived. But you never know - look at Chan Ho.)

Countless others in previous years, you have to think the Dodgers are one of the best teams in the leauge in finding fake pitchers.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=21732

I wish they'd go to a CoverItLive type live blogging software instead of that old school way, but whatever. Odds of any of us getting a question answered by him are roughly 1-1000.

Here's a question for Canuck, Nate, ToyCannon, and the rest.

Assuming Kershaw gets 8 outs on Friday, who is the Dodgers's best prospect?

Out of the pre-season top ten, only Elbert, Withrow, McDonald and Baez remain eligible and certainly Withrow and Baez have not moved their stock this year.

Certainly, De Jesus, Lambo, Gallagher, Martin, Kyle Russell, Morris now enter the picture but the excitement that surrounded the last few years of Dodger prospects may finally be leveling off after a tremendous 5 year period.

If he's not a Type A or B free agent, there is no reason to offer him arbitration since there's no compensation. If the club wants him back, they can simply negotiate with him when he becomes a free agent.

McDonald, Elbert, Lambo, Gallagher, DeJesus then it gets way more confusing. Just consider the source of this opinion.

The only time I feel like an LA guy (and I'm really not) is when the Dodgers play the Giants. Staying up late is brutal. But I have to do it. Thank God my wife understands.

Since Vin clearly reads this, I just want to say how much I appreciate his "On this day..." reports.

That said, I'd like to see Hu up now just for the defense that he brings. It's not likely, though, because, if I'm not mistaken, Berroa and Ozuna are out of options -- not that we'd run any risk of losing Berroa if we sent him down, or that it would be any loss if we did. But I doubt management thinks that way.

If Nomar goes on the DL, Hu could be called up to replace him, but Berroa and Ozuna will still be on the team for those reasons.

I think we probably need a decent pinch hitter more than we need Hu up. He's not on the 40 man roster, but I'd be tempted to give Lindsey a chance, given the season he's had. There's Tiffee when he gets back from the Olympics (also necessitating a 40 man roster move). Even Repko would be worth trying over Jones and Sweeney at this point. Our bench pinchhitting option is LaRoche, but I don't have a problem with him getting some regular playing time to get his bat hot again.

Sorry for the long rambling post here. I want Hu. I want a decent pinchhitter. Sending down the seldom used Troncosco would allow both.

The Dodgers tried to come to terms with playoff winner Jose Lima after his 2004 campaign, but the sides could not strike a deal before the arbitration deadline. The Dodgers then declined arbitration and Lima ended up signing with KC.

Covered by Jon here: http://tinyurl.com/5z7jer

Now clubs can negotiate with a FA even if they don't offer arbitration.

Get both feet down or it doesn't count.

Angels 66-40 Scored 480; given up 437; +43 runs

A's 53-53; scored 446; given up 404; +42 runs

Stupid agendas.

>>>who has more upside potential? who is more likely to be a productive regular? LaRoche, DeWitt, or Brandon Wood?

Jim Callis: (2:31 PM ET ) LaRoche.<<<

So the NFL just wants to make the out of bounds definitions simpler. Forceouts weren't subject to review.

I remember when the NBA had a "forceout" rule. Those were the days.

Jim Callis: (2:49 PM ET ) Kershaw.

Nomar will make a great pinch hitter. If Nomar goes on the DL, Hu would have time to show if he can replace Berroa or Ozuna.

Just in case...

Career starter
Career reliever

I believe Hu's bat is for real and he is a bonafide starter at shortstop. Sickels, Goldstein, Law, Neyer, and Callis said the same thing regarding to Hu. The thing is will management believe that the one month trial earlier in the season was indicative or an aberration of future performance. ( It's most likely the latter).

>>>Jason (Birmingham MI): Edgar Renteria or a parking meter with a bat taped to it?

Jim Callis: (2:50 PM ET ) The parking meter might have more range, too.<<<

Great post, but are you sure you want Ned thinking? See Jones, Pierre, Schmidt etc. for Coletti "thinking."

(I'm leaving Torre out of this because I have no idea how he would come in on this -- I still like to believe he can be a good manager for these kids)

Great Post Jon - You are all over it.

Hope the Dodgers win again tonight.

Picking look slim but we do have Hu, LaRoche, and DeWitt who lost eligibility cooling their heels in AAA so it is not as bad as it looks.

We have yet to see Withrow or Martin so they might be better then any of them but at some point Withrow has to throw some innings.

After Carlos Santana, Victor Garate was my favorite story this summer and I'm curious how he does in the Cal League. Could be a late blooming lefty. I still like Pedroza.

Jim Callis: Regular.*

I can dream can't I.

I'm running for cover as I ask, but it is an honest question. I am still a Logan fan.

That seems to be asking for some injuries.

The Twins talked to the Orioles about Roberts last winter, but this month, the O's have told teams he's not available.<<

http://tinyurl.com/669gps

Outfield of Bay, Pierre and Kemp? Definitely an upgrade.

Since I took the time to call out your last post, I want to commend you on this one. Measured and spot on, I thought, in every regard.

And as someone who's dealt with the whole diabetes/insulin thing, I'm even more impressed by what Johnson accomplished - in this game and throughout his career. In a way, I would think it's even tougher to handle the pressures of relieving than starting, though, which is what he was doing before last night. For instance, if I know I'm going to go on a run, I can adjust by upping the carb intake and/or decreasing insulin intake before hand. I've never had a pump - thank god - but the issues are the same whether the insulin is delivered through a pump or self-injected. Heavy exercise simulates/stimulates insulin in the body (which it does depends on your reserves) so that if you don't adjust your insulin (downward) and carbs (upward), you can have a dangerous "down" (low blood sugar), and actually pass out or worse.

Which means you can plan for a start. But being in the bull pen would be much tougher. I would have to think that he prepares for each game as if he's going to play, and then - if he doesn't - either works out for an hour or so after the game, or increases his insulin intake at that point. Or both. (Otherwise, assuming that he upped his carbs and/or decreased his insulin, he might end up with a high blood sugar count.)

I'm hopeful about the team as well - and even more hopeful for cool heads. It's a funny thing about the uncertainty of the Dodger front office - one has to wonder after a while if, despite how much one may disagree with his actions and/or philosophy, Coletti is to blame, or if the true origins of that uncertainty lie higher up.

Is there a place to post comments/feedback there?

81 Thanks for adding personal insight on the diabetes thing. I have friends in the same situation and I'm always impressed with how they handle it - and impressed with the new technology they have now which makes it easier to deal with. And that was yet another reason I've been pulling for Johnson. (And another reason I'm rooting even harder for Jay Cutler this season.)

It's everything you expect, except he talks in one paragraph.

2002: James Loney, Johnathan Broxton, Delwyn Young, Russell Martin, Eric Stults (Possibles Greg Miller, Zach Hammes).

2003: Chad Billingsley, Matt Kemp, Andy LaRoche, Travis Denker [traded] (Xavier Paul, Lucas May)

2004: Scott Elbert, Blake Dewitt, Justin Ordenduff, Cory Wade (Justin Ruggiano)

2005: Ivan Dejesus, Josh Bell, John Meloan (Steven Johnson)

2006: Clayton Kershaw, Bryan Morris (Kyle Orr, Preston Mattingly, Jaime Ortiz)

2007: Chris Winthrow, Michael Watt, Austin Gallagher, Andew Lambo, Justin Miller, Jaime Pedroza, Bobby Blevins, Timothy Sexton.

Now obviously looking at that list of players who either are or could substantially develop into major leaguers, I would say it is fair to say that Logan is still doing a great job.

The issue is that several players are just over the prospect limit, but have not really been integrated into the team yet which hurts when just ranking players who qualify as prospects.

Such players include Kershaw, LaRoche, Hu and Dewitt. If those were the top 4 with rest making up the top 10 we would say that we have a great system which is closer to the truth.