The only problem is finding him a position but luckily it might not matter if this guys our manager.

Shortstop Joel Guzman, the Dodgers' 2004 minor league player of the year, will play third base this winter in the Dominican winter league for the Estrellas de Oriente.

Terry Collins, the Dodgers' director of player development, said the move was orchestrated by the Estrellas to make room for Texas' Joaquin Arias.

"They called us and asked if we minded if he play third," Collins said. "As long as he gets at-bats, I don't care where he plays."

That's a strange comment for a guy who's position is a key concern before he makes the big club. This Collins guy is a reactionary fool. I think it's time to "part ways."

WWSH

Steve Hensen's article in the LA Times this morning mentioned the possibility of Hershiser joining the Dodgers in another capacity as well. It certainly sounded like Orel, et al were putting out the best presentation of how his meeting/dinner with McCourt went.

Hopefully, along with it, we'll hear that Luvollo is joining the organization in some capacity.

And maybe, the triple play, Orel comes in to take Collins' current job running the minors. Remember he did say he would take a front office job.

Do I remember correctly that James Loney fields 1st base well?

The analogy doesn't work and the supposition is groundless. Some managers will have the career arc of pitchers, by coincidence, and some won't. There's no basis for suggesting that Collins' peaked.

He managed the Mets through the 1981 season, but was unable to post a winning season; he then took over as manager of the Braves, leading them to the NL Western Division title in his first season (1982) before slipping to second in 1983 and third in '84. After leaving the Braves in 1984, he worked in broadcasting in the late 1980s before being asked to manage the Cardinals in mid-1990. He posted a repectable 351-354 with St. Louis, but they were unable to reach the playoffs and he was fired in mid-1995.

Joe Torre.

I would argue that Joe's abilities and keen insights into player lineups and clubhouse chemistry have less to do with the Yankee success than having the best players on his roster. Point is, a manager's past performance is a poor predictor of future success/failure. IMHO, the best teams in any given year have a cohesive organizational philosophy from top to bottom AND who's players generally play above the average AND stay healthy. The manager is a small but highly visible part of the equation and usually credited or blamed more than their fair share.

Of course, I also believe JT was an exception to this rule :)

I personally go back & forth on Collins. His main selling point is exactly what scanderbag said--he knows the young up and comers probably better than anyone. His other main selling point is he did manage before, and did okay, though not winning it all.

The main concern to me is this rep Collins has for being too emotional. I don't like working for people whose emotions are out of control, so why would Dodger players? An authority figure ought to have an internal sense of discipline that would prevent outbursts of that nature. Phil Garner throwing a chair after his pitcher gave up a home run is understandable in a fan, but not from the boss. Bosses I've known like that create enormous and unnecessary problems.

Maybe Collins, who's closing in on Social Security status, has licked the problem by now. If so, then he might be the perfect combination.

I feel like the comments here should be 1) fun and/or 2) worthy of being taken seriously. Making Collins out to be the equivalent of Erickson produces the opposite effect.

It's fine if you want Hershiser or whoever to be the next manager, but everyone should try to keep things in perspective.

You have to realize that it is really quite possible for Orel to have beliefs that do not mesh with DePodesta's, which would put us in the same ugly situation as we had in 2005. I don't know if that's the case - almost nobody does. But I just feel like you're making assumptions left and right instead of being open-minded.

I will add if that's the case and it doesn't matter, then DePo may as well have held onto Jimbo.

I don't care about Collin's style. He can cry like a baby for all I care.

I do care that when DePo makes an acquisition or trade that the manager values and understands why that move was made (whether or not it was good move! But that's a different subject).

Admittedly, I don't know much about the guy other than his stints in Houston and Anaheim of Los Angeles and his current job.

From what I can gather, his teams pretty much played as expected. His managerial record and pythag record (according to bb-ref.com):

'94 Astros - 66-49 (Actual)/67-48 (pythag)
'95 Astros - 76-68/76-95
'96 Astros - 82-80/77-85
'97 Angels - 84-78/84-78
'98 Angels - 85-87/81-81
'99 Angels - 70-92/70-92

Take from those numbers what you will (Jim Tracy's are probably similar).

What kind of evidence do we have with him working with young players? Did Bags or Tim Salmon (or Jim Edmonds) but in big situations while he was managing? What are his thoughts on platoons? What was his bullpen management like in previous stops? Does he pull his starters too soon or too late? Etc, etc.

Wow, that's harsh. ;-)

Did Bags or Tim Salmon (or Jim Edmonds) bunt in big situations while he was managing?

I should add as well.. did he have good relationships with his previous GMs?

'95 Astros - 76-68/76-65

Given how Collins has had player relations problems in the past how would he handle Milton Bradley(if he returns),Jeff Kent or Brad Penny's clubhouse personalities?

'95 Astros - 76-68/79-65

Jeff Bagwell hasn't had a sacrifice since 1994.

45 If he is the manager, I'm guessing we won't see JD laying down any sacrifices next year.

What basis is there for assuming that Hershiser meshes with DePodesta at all?

The interview process is there to answer these questions and others like them, and unless DePodesta is being prevented from making his first choice, I really don't see why we wouldn't be happy with that choice, whoever he is. (Unless, of course, you are anti-DePodesta to begin with, which is a whole other issue.)

The exceptional bullpen from '01-'04 could explain this. And the lousy bullpen this year supports the theory.

I'm wondering how well Trammel did.

One of my most prized possesions is a signed picture of Orel that I got at a Safeway grand opening in Arcadia back when he was a rookie. I had no idea who he was (then again, I was 7) and don't remember much about it, other than cheap hotdogs and getting autographs from Dodgers.

The other Dodger at the event was RJ Reynolds. I have an autographed picture from him too, but it doesn't mean the same thing.

At the same time, isn't that true with all GM/manager relationships?

Where have you gone Yhency Brazoban?

The 8th inning needs some zeroes again from you... oooh oooh oooooh.

Of course this whole question is based on the assumption of Depo being true the Michael Lewis's managerial philosophy.

Curtis, why do you keep asking this question when it has been answered over and over again?

Ozzie Guillen was certainly successful at doing that this year in Chicago. Lasorda was flopping around the 3rd base coaches box for years in L.A.

So, can Collins or Hershiser or Trammel be a good motivator? I have no frame of reference for Trammel or Collins because I simply never paid attention to their managerial styles when they were managing. Orel has always been considered a good role model and a "bulldog" who led by example on the field. He is a competitor, but I have no clue as to how he would work to motivate a complex group of personalities.

Seriously, DePo will most likely be criticized for whomever he chooses as Manager. Many fans and writers still have an axe to grind for all of the trades and personnel choices he has made. I think this will remain true until we win the west. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

I'll wait to see if I get to criticize or praise his choice. He needs to pick the Manager that he believes will suit the image that he is in the process of shaping, regardless of fan or media approval.

Seems to me that in the specific case of the '02 A's, Beane needed to address defensive loss while not being able to pay for equal defensive replacements... hence the concept of looking at the sum total of defensive positions that needed replacing and trying to add an equal sum with the new players (though some, like Jeremy Giambi) were far weaker defensively than the players they replaced.

-He has previous managing exp which has allowed him to learn from mistakes as well as successes

-He is a fiery/emotional guy and I'll take that over stoic in my manager anyday.

-He knows our minor league talent better than anyone.

-He obviously gets along and is on the same page as Depo.

Another way to look at it is if you have a Jason Giambi (MVP form Giambi) type, it might be okay (especially since he is a 1B) to punt defense because the offensive value that he brought at the time outweighed any shortcomings he had on defense.

I for one would prefer Collins as manager, and if it's possible, Orel as the pitching coach, or perhaps in the front office. I think that would address Curtis' point about fan sentiment, while ensuring that we don't have another painful experience with a manager and GM working at cross purposes.

WWSH

"...Bradley, You'll be batting left handed next inning... ...Bako, call the bullpen and tell them to warm up Wunsch and Schmoll..."

I always felt that it was simply:

How can our 70 million compete with their 120 million.

Collins reputation to this point (as with most fire-breathers) is that the act grows tiresome and burns out after a few seasons. Orel coming in as pitching coach could be a good plan for if/when that happens with Collins.

79 Moneyball is about economics but that does lead to how the game is played. If you are trying to win with lesser or undervalued players you want to maximize their chances to win. Based on statistical analysis it is not productive to give away outs in the form of sacrifices or failed stolen base attempts. I can eat just as well, and save money, buying generic products or using coupons. But it won't matter much if I then throw half my dinner in the trash. Which leads me to the conclusion that there are children starving in India because of Jim Tracy.

You made me do a spit-take

And that's only on average. If you only steal in optimal times, runner on first, two out or runner on second one out, it drops to about 66%.

So if I'm driving from Pasadena to Ojai can I avoid a lot of the traffic on the 101 going there if I take the 118 all the way to its end (including the surface street part) all the way to Ventura and hooking up with the 101 there?

I've always found that traffic does not move through the Oxnard-Camarillo area at all.