Great line, whether it applies to baseball or anything else. Are you listening Milton?

I'm really hoping we can re-sign Wunsch though, he should come cheap and be a good LOOGY like last year.

The ultimate addition-by-subtraction trade was when the Angels got the Mets to take Vaughn off their hands for Kevin Appier before the 2002 season. I'm convinced that trade was a key to their championship. Even though they had to eat the back end of Appier's absurd contract, he contributed in '02, but more importantly, he wasn't Mo Vaughn.

If Vaughn was who did Collins in, then my objections to him are somewhat eased.

IF Milton Bradley WERE to be retained, that could be viewed as a huge accident waiting to happen--somewhere along the lines of P.J. Carlissimo/Latrell Sprewell.

From the LAT article, it's funny how all of a sudden it went from being soley DePodesta's choice to now involvement from Frank McCourt.

I would love to be a fly on the wall of the interview between Kirk Gibson and Frank McCourt, just to see the reaction on Gibson's face of what an actual imbecile MLB owner looks and sounds like.

But seriously, and ironically considering the Bible reference, shouldn't Milton get one more chance? Forgiveness? Anyone? Julio Lugo didn't go through all the things Milton did to try and get his life straight. And Milton WAS making progress. In regards to 6, to think that a player as talented as Milton would not be playing baseball next year seems crazy to me.

There is a lot of stone-throwing in regards to this young man. And it's a shame that we can't do everything in our power to help him overcome his demons and own this city.

Again, the Kent thing is understandable. When two guys who want to win become frustrated on a hard luck team, something is bound to happen. In a kids game two grown men acted like kids...thus, ship a great, cheap outfielder out of town??

We should be further aiding him in becoming a better person, not booting him out.

All this from a town who's forgiven Kobe. Does Milton need to hold a crying press conference??

The Allen Iversons, Ray Lewises and Kobe Bryants all immediately come to mind.

12. I would agree with you except that all those players you sighted have had fewer incidents than Milton Bradley.

So he needs to cry again?

Basketball, for all its popularity and American origins, is not viewed in the same way.

Football players tend to have the image of being mercenaries and warriors, so they can get away with more.

But baseball players play on big green fields and people take small children and we all think it's so wonderful. So I do think there is a higher standard.

One example of this is the Baseball Hall of Fame. People argue about who belongs passionately. Not many people not named Paul Zimmerman get all worked up about who gets into Canton.

I believe Edmonds demanded to be traded, but from what I can (quickly) find in the Times archives, the Angels would have had to get rid of one outfielder anyway, with Erstad, Anderson, Salmon, and Edmonds all providing quality bats. Edmonds, as the resident pain in the neck and the guy with the most value, was odd man out. But it's scary to go back and see what the Angels were contemplating getting at the time -- Adam Piatt from the A's? Talk about a bust...

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/P/adam-piatt.shtml

39 homers in the Texas League, and never more than eight at any level higher than AA...

These seem to be far greater incidents than calling Jeff Kent a good ol' boy, confronting a police officer or having a spat with your wife that does NOT even resulting charged pressed.

The more and more I hear people's reponses about Milton, the more and more I think him being Black and a baseball player have to do with it.

The more I try and see Milton's point of view, the more understandable it becomes. You can see why this guy has a "me against the world" complex.

The world IS against him. And don't say, "Oh, but we WERE for him until.." You help a struggling person or you shun them.

Oh, and there's always the biggest non-Finley game of the year last season against the Padres when he robbed a 3 run home-run in the top half of the inning and hit one in the bottom, taking the wind outta the sails of the Padres playoff charge, and putting us up 2 games instead of being tied.

Need I go further?

Hasn't done anything in recent memory, indeed.

"let he...."

Please cease and desist all use of the word indeed to complete a point. This is a flagrant abuse of my client's trade dress and copyright, and we will have to take appropriate steps should you fail to respond.

Sincerely,

Bill Plaschke's Lawyer

:)

Sorry, I can't see why. He was born with God given talent, worked hard to develop that talent and was rewarded with a king's ransom and fame. What justifies his "me against the world" complex. He should view himself as one of the luckiest men in the world and conduct himself as such.

I agree many atheletes have done worse and gotten away with more. But, come on, MB's conduct is not even justifiable in the make believe world of professionsl sports, never mind the real world the rest of us have to live in.

http://www.deadspin.com/sports/hometown-columnists/index.php#why-your-hometown-columnist-sucks-bill-plaschke-131676

http://www.deadspin.com/sports/hometown-columnists/index.php#why-your-hometown-columnist-sucks-bill-plaschke-131676

22 - Exactly.

26 - I wouldn't call half of a Milton Bradley season coupled with an inevitable incident at 4M a steal.

I could also list 3 good managerial moves that Jim Tracy made last year, but that doesn't mean he should've stayed as manager (I hope nobody calls me on this one).

I'm an ex-Laker fan, and Kobe's the reason why. Not so much his repellent, hypocritical public persona, but the fact that this childish athlete, purely to satisfy his grossly mestastisizing ego, induced the Lakers to dump a great player, and thereby took a contender into the dumps. The fan loyalty to that preening narcisstic two-faced fool is intolerable. He wrecked their team!

The whole "gangsta" culture that's been allowed to grow up in the NBA over the past 10 years not only turns my stomach, it's affected the quality of play. Professional basketball is no longer really a team sport. It's "the game goes through me" guy, usually an insufferable egomaniac like Kobe, surrounded by interchangeable nobodies, coached by a coach who's afraid of his own shadow. The NBA is on a one-way trip to NHL-ville.

I think it might be easier to argue that Michael Jordan is more responsible for the "the game goes through me" attitude than your so-called "gangsta" culture.

I recognize that Kobe is a sheltered preppie who speaks Italian, gets his nails done, and can hold up his end of a conversation with a sommelier. He has more in common with Paris Hilton than with Milton Bradley. But part of the gangsta culture is an unreal sensitivity to any microscopic slight to the "respect" one thinks one is owed. That's Kobe.

And Michael Jordan never blackmailed his owner into ridding the team of a player his equal or better, just to make him feel better about himself. Far from it. It was only after the arrival of another great player, Scottie Pippen, that Jordan started winning his rings.

I personally think it's more likely that Shaq was more into the limelight than Kobe (judging from his look-at-me-I-give-kids-in-Watts-stuff-once-a-year attitude. Either way you're hating someone, and subsequently a franchise, based on the assumption that Kobe "dismantled" a team.

I just don't think that Kobe is the best player to represent your "gangsta" culture.

Clippers will now rule LA for the next decade. The worm has turned.

In regards to Wunsch: I like the guy, but the fact is I don't think using 1/25 of you roster should include someone with such a niche speciality. He's lucky to pitch an inning a week. I'd prefer to get or bring up someone is much more generic in nature (i.e. middle-reliever, 8th inning guy).

Don't forget, he also forced Buss to shed Phil Jackson, too, because Phil didn't give him enough respect, i.e. let him do exactly what he wanted when he wanted to.

Now Jackson's back because last season was humiliating to Kobe. And the slavish Laker fans and media will line up, pay the outlandish ticket fees, buy their dopey little car flags, and obediently root for their team. Kobe's "grown." Gag me.

Don't worry, the Lakers won't miss me.

Who unselfishly moved to RF, so the older and inferior defender (Steve Finley) could stay in CF to satisfy his ego. In the past 2 years, which Dodger player has done the most involuntary community service? Which player on the Dodgers is the 2nd most popular player to Gagne? This is a man who has done the most work in the black community since Sheffield was here. If the Dodgers are serious about winning, then Bradley will be retained. If they would rather satisfy jerks like Plaschke and Simers, then they might as well get rid of half the players on the team because this is not a team built on "heart, soul, and grit"

We're talking about the 11th man on the pitching staff, here. If there's someone better than Wunsch, great - but I'm not sure that Osoria, Schmoll, etc. are more valuable.

58 - I'm still in college and Encyclopedia Brown was an indispensable part of my childhood (or at least its niche).

Count me into the group that hopes DePo doesn't give up on Bradley just yet.. or at least that he looks more closely at the situation.

I can just see the antiquated copies of the books in my grade school library, thinking, "this looks ancient" even then.

Who is the Bugs Meany in Dodgers land?

I dont care if Milton Bradley and Jeff Kent don't like each other. I dont care if they come to blows in the clubhouse everyday. I dont care if Milton goes to the press everyday and says "Jeff Kent hates black people". I dont think this clubhouse ruckus is going change what Milton or Kent does in his 4 ab's every day.

We are in a position where we have to keep Bradley, theres not much out there to replace him. And this situation is probably a good one.

Isn't Wunsch effective against both lefties and righties?

The question is, "Why do the Dodgers need a decent LOOGY in 2006?"

I'm on board with re-signing Wunsch.

As for Encyclopedia Brown, I loved those books. I still recall the case of the stolen goose. E. Brown knew that the breast meat of a goose is dark, to solve the mystery.

Regarding Milton Bradley, I would be in favor of bringing him back at the right price. He's not a boyscout, but I think he's probably making an attempt to stop all the chaos that surrounds him. And I really do think that a lot of the stuff that he's gotten a bad wrap for over the years are things that would be ignored if done by anyone else.

Remember when Andruw Jones was an immature little punk? How'd that turn out?

I'm listening to the cases for Bradley, but I just don't get that comparison to Jones.

"Monday night's nightmare qualifies as a full-fledged Stomach Punch (Level 2, one from the top) for Astros fans -- it only would have been worse if they were one strike from winning the World Series. Given the circumstances and the history of Houston's franchise, Pujols' homer has to rank on the short list along with Mookie/Buckner, Hendu, Grady Little, Sid Bream, Jose Mesa, Earnest Byner, Scott Norwood, Steve Bartman and every other ultra-excruciating defeat that can be described in two words or less. "

http://tinyurl.com/8h4bp

I might be overly optimistic about him, but in a few year, I doubt we'll be hearing about how much of a bad guy Bradley is.

At age 19, Milton Bradley was played for the Gulf Coast League Expos and Vermont of the NY-Penn League. (Which must have made people lost all the time.)

Encyclopedia Brown lived in Idaville. His father was the Chief of Police. His nemesis was Bugs Meany. His friend was Sally Kimball. Encyclopedia's real first name was Leroy.

Don't call him Leroy.

Sanchez
Schmoll
Eyre
Wunsch
Brazoban
Gagne

Decline the option on good ol' Elmer and spend some money on the bullpen.

Bradley just doesn't strike me as someone who doesn't care about people, so my only real concern for him is whether or not addiction problems derail his career, because that would surely cancel out my boys-will-be-boys theory. He's got the DUI in his past, something I nearly forgot about. But if things like that don't resurface, I think Bradley's effort in bettering himself will eventually pay off. I get the impression he's trying to improve himself far more than many other athletes who make excuses for everything they do.

Yeah, 19 years old, how crazy was that? The talent he had at that age was just unbelievable.

We're talking approximately what he'll be paid through arbi next year.

Moving to RF was what an unproven, injury prone CF should do, and should've done when the more proven Drew showed up.

Bradley is injury and outburst prone. Bring him back if he agrees to play right and wear duct tape over his mouth.

83 I'm in the pro-Bradley camp, but you can't deny that re-signing him is a risk. He's not stable, psychologically, at least viewed from the outside. His "team player" rhetoric rings hollow after his public attack on Kent, which occured despite his manager telling him to keep quiet. If the Dodgers keep him, and I hope they can find a way to do so, it could go south very quickly.

That's why I predict DePodesta will let him go, despite the obvious harm to the team's offense. DePo's not feeling super-confident right now. He probably doesn't think he could survive the PR hit if Bradley came back to bite him. He trusts his acumen enough to think he could find the equivalent on the market someplace, and might be willing to overpay for someone with equal stats so that Bradley won't be so badly missed.

Just my 2 cents....I think Shaq is at fault for the Laker demise (contract demands, selfishness, lack of playing any defense, not being able to hit a free throw, postponing surgery until after the season starts..need I go on?). I am in Kobe's corner on that one.

McCourt may have already decided the issue on a PR basis, but even if McCourt allows Bradley to stay, DePo might have serious reservations about the on-field Bradley.

89 - I'm not as convinced that DePo will let him go. I'd like to see a contract reached w/o arbi for about 3-3.5M with the understand that he's no longer the CFer.

If I'm Milton I've got to be thinking "man, if I can stay healthy and have one solid year where I keep my mouth shut, I could get a pretty long and lucrative deal somewhere." Or maybe if I'm Milton I'm throwing a bottle, who can say.

They have both been pretty pathetic...but I think it's a knock on Drew before Bradley. They both played the majority of 2004 though, so here's hoping!

But I agree, if Bradley is healthy, you offer him arbitration. If not, then it's a sad end to a coulda-been type story.

It's not in his control, of course, unless DePo non-tenders him. But if Milton hypothetically were to say he'd be better off with a fresh start elsewhere, would it be wise for DePo to fight him?

That might have more of an impact on whether or not he comes back than anything else, I suppose. He sounded like he was into Tracy, and I'm sure DePo would rather not have insubordination in the clubhouse managed and coached by his hand-picked guys.

It won't be a death sentence for him if he ends up with another team. Good people are told to hunt for jobs elsewhere all the time.

By the way, I'm not knocking Drew or Bradley to say they're not durable. They're not. It's just the way it is. Bob Timmermann and Kobe Bryant are not short; Drew and Bradley are not durable.

I think Bradley could really relate to Gibson too... but all this is really wild speculation.

I think Milton should cool down enough over the winter to realize this. He probably already has. Of course, none of the asshole Los Angeles press would seek out that story.

Most of the players respected and genuinuely liked Tracy, so I don't think there's anything special about that relationship. The guy seems to need a "daddy," so any authority figure will take on disproportionate importance for him.

This issue divides DT posters for the simple reason that there's no good option. It's sad and frustrating for those who want to see him go; it's risky and frustrating for those who'd like to see him stay. There's his offensive output, but there's also his physical frailty. You get the feeling that if we let him go, he might blossom into a huge star somewhere else; but if we keep him, he might damage the team for a third season in a row.

There's no obvious right answer.

"I think the only thing keeping Bradley from truly disintegrating is being close to his mother and his community. If you can't act sane and respectably with your mother at the game and in your neighborhood...you can't ever hope to."

If this were the case (and I don't think it is, by the way), then I definitely wouldn't re-sign Bradley. Think about what you're saying. The guy is close to 30 years old and you're saying he can't survive without his mother. If that were true, that would be an even more serious problem than what we've been talking about.

Nothing like typing the exact opposite of what I mean.

100 - Why?

Assuming that the Dodgers even want Bradley back, couldn't they offer a relatively low contract with lots of incentives (for health reasons and for emotional outbursts)? Seems like a win-win scenario.

A one-year contract for, like $2-3 million with incentives that can boost it over $4million if he plays in 130 games and doesn't have any outbursts.

Like it or not, he's a part-time player. IMO, he'll command more salary than a part-time outfielder is worth. I would pass on him if I were DePo; let someone else overpay and roll the dice.

Did anyone else love that Milton had to call his Mama over to settle him and his wife down after one of their infamous 911 spats?

I bet, by the way, that Milton's wife is as much of a handful as he is.

And who doesn't love Milton's emphatic points to her after homeruns and big hits?

126 - I'm kind of hoping that the fact that he will have had nine months off actually works in his favor, that time will have healed his wounds.

There is 0 percent chance he will go to the minors except on a rehab assignment.

I think its safe to say Milton is capable of putting up .370 .480 25-30 Homeruns IF and its a big IF he stays healthy. If we get rid of him it won't be because he's physically fragile it will be because of his emotional problems.

My problem with that is if Bradley hits .370 OB% .480 SLG% and 30 Homeruns and tears the clubhouse down after everygame and we have to chain him up like mongo are we better off not having that .370 .480 30 homeruns and outstanding defense?

Are we going to win more games with Jason repko in CF because he never causes turmoil?

and i like the idea of a highly incentivized contract for bradley to keep him around.

I guess with the dearth of free agent OFs and the lack of OF prospects ready to step in next year we might be inclined to sign Bradley to a 1-year deal and hope against hope that he comes through, but that would only be because it is the "least bad" option.

Personally, I would love to see us sign Brian Giles and move J.D. Drew to CF. But that's easier said then done, as many teams will be chasing Giles. Still, he looks like the best fit for us among the FAs, and we have quite a bit of money coming of the books.

I'll write more over on Catfish Stew, as soon as I collect myself...

What's wrong with the Dodgers signing Bradley (expecting him to play 120 games) and having Werth and Ledee as the backups. A durable LF is a must this offseason (*cough*Matsui*cough*)

The obit on the A's MLB site is a great piece. http://tinyurl.com/8fpmr

One of the mistakes you can pin to Depodesta is going into 2005 with such a brittle outfield; werth, bradley and drew have all had trouble staying healthy throughout their careers and ledee is not enough insurance off the bench as he was injured as well. The Dodgers cant do this again, but a great way to protect yourself by relegating werth to the bench with ledee. As a platoon werth and ledee can hit enough to be a solid starting outfielder. Just need one more outfielder is needed if they retain bradley, and two if he isnt.

This is why i'm in favor of trading bradley, he's an injury risk in an outfield that has enough of that, and the reason he's a good player is that he plays a good centerfield, Milton Bradley as a corner outfielder isnt anything special, and the Dodgers have in Drew, Werth, and even Repko, guys who can play centerfield. If there were some way we could trade Bradley for a player with less defensive ability (limiting him to a corner) but with more offensive ability (and durability), it would be a much better fit for the team.

1) New manager won't be announced until after the World Series.

2) Pendleton withdrew - he wants to stay on the East Coast.

I think other teams are going to be more worried about that than his psychological makeup.

That said, an OF of Drew, Bradley, Werth, Ledee, and Repko/Young/Ruggiano is not acceptable if we plan on winning. There's just not enough health or established players

What I'm saying is, who wouldn't want at least some of the above players? And yet, there's this idea afoot that players who've been injured should be shunned. I don't think that's realistic, and the fear of avoiding players with DL time in their futures might restrict your choices too much.

-bring back bradley
-bring back cruz jr
-trade for big bat (lf) (dunn, while we are dreaming)
-play choi
-bring in Nomar-assuming it's all incetive contract (he can play ss/3b)

-figure out the leadoff spot before the playoffs!

-trade for or sign two quality sp or one ACE and an avg sp
-sign or trade for a good veteran inning eater for the pen

-figure out if Gagne is really back before the deadline

Leadoff- Milton Bradley CF
2nd - Hee Soep Choi 1b
3rd- Jeff Kent 2b
4th- Adam Dunn Lf
5th- JD Drew RF
6th Nomar SS
7th - Willy Aybar/ Antonio Perez 3b
8th - Navarro

Bench
Andy Pratt-C
Jayson Werth
Delwyn Young
Antonio Perez/Willy Aybar
Rickey Ledee
Cesar Izturis/ Robles

Staff

1. Penny
2. Lowe
3. Op
4. Kevin Brown
5. Ted Lilly/Edwin Jackson/ NRI

Bullpen
Gagne
Sanchez
Brazoban
Driefort
Wunsch
Kuo

Maybe unrealistic but its just a the structure i have in mind. LF doesnt exactly mean Dunn, it just means getting a nice power guy in LF so i'd be just as happy making a trade for a Johnny Gomes type.

Too bad about Pendleton. Oh well, at least he didn't waste their time. I still would like to see them at least interview ron Washington before making any decisions... but we'll see.

He should come very very cheap which means no one will care when he gets injured, same with Dreifort.

Not pitching to the Yankee's infield would do him wonders. His pheriphals are still pretty dam good.

Perez* - 3B
Drew - CF
Kent - 2B
Dunn - LF
Cruz - RF
Choi - 1B
Navarro - C
Robles* - SS

Bench - Aybar, Werth, Ledee, Craig Wilson (or Bako if you need a "real" catcher), +1 bench spot (Delwyn Young?)

Penny
Lowe
OPerez
Lilly
Houlton

Gagne, Sanchez, Braz, Schmoll, Osoria, Dessens, Kuo, Wunsch

*Perez also plays a healthy amount of short, esp. against lefties, with Aybar at 3rd.

If you're not a Lilly fan, I'd consider moving Duaner to the rotation, and keeping Broxton up in the pen.

http://tinyurl.com/8shs7

Without further adieu…

OVERVIEW
2005 Won-Lost Record: 71-91, the Blue Crew's worst record in many a moon.

Best Player: Jeff Kent

Weak Spots: The player's bodies were pretty weak which is a semi-witty way of saying that injuries were problemo numero uno this season. The starting pitching was inconsistent though you couldn't tell from the press coverage. Also, the manager may have quit on the team as early as the summer.

Best Starting Pitcher: Brad Penny

Best Relief Pitcher: Duaner Sanchez

Staff Weakness: The vacation it took this summer did not help. As for specific players, the fact they don't have a number one starter and that Perez, Weaver and Lowe are all antonyms to the word consistency.

Best Bench Player: Antonio Perez and Hee-Seop Choi.

Most Pleaseant Surprise: Dioner Navarro with a nod to Olmedo Saenz.

Biggest Disappointment: Jim Tracy. Among players, there are many candidates but I'll take Cesar Izturis and Yhency Brazoban.

Park Characteristics: A pitchers park that tends to give up the long ball when Dodgers are on the mound.

ORGANIZATIONAL REPORT CARD
Ownership – C (anything higher or lower would cause a storm of controversy)
Upper Management – C (I love the guy but 2005 is at least some of his responsibility)
Field Management -- D
Front-Line Talent – B (when healthy)
Second-Line Talent -- B
Minor League System: A+

2005 SEASON
Background: After the dreadful Fox years, the Dodgers were frustratingly second-tier or just out of the running in the 21st century. Then came a joyous 2004 where the team won the NL West in spite of a trade that most in the Los Angeles press corps equated to the clubbing of a seal. During the off-season, GM Paul DePodesta scattered the team to the four winds, spent oodles of money on free agents Jeff Kent, Derek Lowe and J.D. Drew and was rewarded by hearing his boss called a cheapskate and his reputation etched in granite as a computer nerd who never swung a bat. It was pretty weird…

Outlook: Most thought the Dodgers or the Padres would win a weak division. Most did not know just how weak the division would actually be.

Getaway: a.k.a. the high point of the season. The Dodgers went 12-2 to start, keyed by an exhilarating comeback win over the Giants on opening day.

High Point of the Season: See above.

Low Point of the Season: See rest of the season. Jon Weisman wrote that it's a bad time to be had by all when the year-ending injury to Eric Gagne doesn't even make the medal round of disappointments. Take your pick: the injuries, especially to Drew, the public pissing contest between Kent and Bradley, the starting pitching… but for my money, the low point was Jim Tracy's increasingly bizarre use of the lineup. Even in the midst of a race—and the Dodgers were there for a while—Tracy continued to use ballplayers like Jason Phillips (at first base) and Mike Edwards when better options were available, often two players deep on the bench.

Stretch Drive: The Dodgers lost 19 of their last 29.

Major Injuries: You could write a book.

Offense: Not as good as it could've been, in my humble opinion. I think Jim Tracy fell in love with the 2004 version of the Dodgers. After Paul LoDuca was traded, Tracy wore his number. When Beltre was let go, I think Tracy took it as a huge blow. So Jim Tracy tried to make the 2005 Dodgers just like the 2004 version by playing chemistry guys who played with savvy, guys who looked like ballplayers. That is the only sensible explanation I have for playing Jason Phillips at first base when there was a wealth of other options available.

Defense: The press thought Kent would be iron glove and he was anything but. Infield was only okay and the outfield was the same. The opposition ran wild on the basepaths.

Pitching: 12th in the league with a 4.66 ERA. A terrible performance for the park they play in.

Number of players having good seasons by their own standards: Of the players left standing, Jeff Kent had a terrific season and was far and away the team MVP.
Over-Achiever: Joze Cruz, Jr.

Under-Achiever: Izturis

Infield: If it's Phillips, Kent, Izzy and Edwards, it's pretty God-awful. Replace Phillips and Edwards with Choi and Perez and you get some idea why Jim Tracy had to go.

Outfield: A healthy Drew, Bradley and Ledee/Werth outfield would've been pretty good. All four players were hurt badly this season. And they had company in their pain.

Catching: I wonder if Jason Phillips could throw out Jason Phillips? I think he could but you didn't have to be much faster than Phillips to steal second on the Dodgers. Navarro looked good with the wood but struggled throwing as well. In fairness, the Dodger pitchers were not great at holding runners.

Starting Pitching: Maddeningly mediocre.

Relief Pitching: Better than the starters which ain't saying much.

ETC.
Hall of Fame Watch: Kent is in if he never gets another hit. Eric Gagne needs to get healthy and continue to pitch like Eric Gagne for a few more seasons. The rest won't get to Cooperstown without a plane ticket.

Players with a chance for 3000 hits or 500 home runs: Quite literally the last thing on the minds of Dodger fans right now.

Best Interview: It depends on what you mean by "best." If you like controversy or introspection, Milton Bradley's your man. If you mean fun-loving quotes, we're a little short on candidates.

Best Fundamental Player: Probably Jeff Kent.

Worst Fundamental Player: Some would say Antonio Perez but for my money, it's Mike Edwards.

Best Defensive Player: Izturis

Worst Defensive Player: Perez or Phillips

Best Knowledge of the Strike Zone: J.D. Drew

Least Command of the Strike Zone: Izturis or Jason Repko

Fastest Runner: Heck if I know. Jeff Weaver?

Slowest Runner: It's Phillips and I'm sick of mentioning his name!

Best Baserunner: Drew ran the bases quite well before he got hurt.

Most Likely to Still Be Here in 2015: Dioner Navarro

Best Fastball: Brad Penny

Best Breaking Pitch: Derek Lowe's sinker when the leaves changed.

Best Control: This season it was Weaver.

Most Overrated Player: Until his Fall apotheosis, it was Lowe. Now, it's Izzy.

Most Underrated Player: Hee-Seop Choi

Manager's Pet Strategy: Sweet Christmas where do we begin?

Most Fun to Watch: Without Gagne, this was not a very "fun" team, though I enjoyed watching Kent play the game.

Least Fun to Watch: Scott Erickson

Managerial Type: Kent

What Needs to be Done for 2006: You could write two books…

1. Hire a manager who gives a damn about the team, sees the value in the players he has and clearly defines a role for said players.
2. Get healthy.
3. Don't panic. The Dodgers have some extra funds now that Dreifort and Green are off the books but in a thin free-agent market, they need to avoid the pressure from an unforgiving press and stick with the theme of bringing in players who have value.

Outlook for 2006: …will be much debated in the coming months. I think it looks good if for no other reason than they have to be healthier than they were.

Due for a better season: Almost everyone for varying reasons (they'll be healthier, they'll have more playing time, etc.)

Likely to have a worse season: I would be very surprised if after being another year older, Kent matches his 2005 performance.

I would say the "Fastest Runner" title would go to Jason Repko.

Abreu 1-4, K
Laroche 0-4
Kemp 1-4

Dannemiller 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, BB, 2 Ks

I wonder if Jason Phillips could throw out Jason Phillips?

One of the best DT lines of the year! The Dodger version of the chicken or the egg question.

Agree with most of your assessment, except for Choi as the Most Under-rated Player. He was mis-used but did little to help his cause or to force Tracy's hand.

A very interesting point which I had not considered until you raised it was just how boring this team was from an interview perspective. There was no one with any personality. No one with a quick line. No front man (although I think they tried to make Phillips that guy for a while until he peed all over himself.)

Finally, under the likely to have a worse season catagory, I would include Jose Cruz Jr. While we got good use out of him, he killed two other teams who DFAed him this season. He is not what he was and I would rather keep Ladee.

BTW, what school are you at? I know someone who is a first year teacher in Watts. I think she is teaching 6th. I can't believe the way they throw you guys in without any meaningful support. It really is sink or swim and for a pittance of money. (and then they don't give you any $ for supplies) I really admire you guys.

Oh, and Dilbeck's column about not being able to figure out what the managerial candidates have in common is pretty dumb.

This is exactly why I'm scared of losing Milton Bradley.

Jones seems to be on the way down and has never put up a decent OBP, the seeming cornerstone of the new Dodgers offense. He's a good fielder, yes, but not any better than Bradley.

He does play 140+ games every year, which would be refreshing, but his upside for the price, somewhere in the 5-6 million range, doesn't seem to be worth it. Bradley HAS to be a better option than Jacque Jones...and Jones is one of the better outfileders on the market. Hence, the importace of keeping the inexpensive Bradley at the risk of an incentive based contract.

At least Beltre was the best defensive 3B in the league, is relatively healthy, and is still only 26.

4 yrs/47M left for Beltre.
3 yrs/~$45M left for Thome.

Writers are funny.

Yeah, I know it's just more McCourt/DePo bashing. But it's lame.

Successful, experienced managers also have another adjective to describe them - currently employed.

For Seattle, well, this is an awful trade to put it mildly.

Philly would still get what they had coveted and we, still would have nothing to show for Beltre.