My feeling is that Bobby V. won't give up his >$3M salary in Japan to come manage the Dodgers.

I'm curious... does anyone know Ng's philosophy on GM and baseball? while she worked under cashman and depo, does she share their views? I don't know a darn thing about her, except that her last name is exactly nine letters shorter than my own.

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/283509.html

Now if the Dodgers can hurry up and hire Ng/Hershiser, and get a manager in place shortly after, the offseason can still be salvaged.

I hadn't thought seriously about Kim Ng until you raised it, Jon, but it makes sense. She's survived two regime changes and an ownership change: Evans brought her in and she was still there after he left; and now that DePo's gone it seems like her profile in the organization has never been higher. Makes me think she's being groomed for something, either now or later.

http://tinyurl.com/dv85g

McCourts' strike out again. I'd heard that they were interested in Towers, but didn't know that they officially asked permission to interview and were snubbed.

Thanks, Jon et al., for helping me through these last few weeks.

http://tinyurl.com/bt4r2

Hope she's not married to that idea. Superficially at least, that's what touched off this whole firestorm.

Do we think baseball or the Dodgers are open minded enuf to accept a woman GM???? Don't bring up Marge Schoot she inherited the Reds and was often ostracized by her peers. Maybe it would be right for the Dodgers to be the leaders in promoting the first female GM but could she hold her own in the boys club that is baseball.

Also if she is made GM could we all chip in and get her to buy a vowel??

Whoever becomes GM, I want them to 1) fire Lasorda and 2) hire Collins as manager. Then dare the McCourts to fire him/her right after being hired (and DePo being fired, < 2 years after Evans was fired).

I doubt it... Tommy reports to Frankie directly. He's on the otherside of the org. chart with the rest of the McCourt family.

"He would have a keen eye for baseball talent and experience to do the job," McCourt said.

That should preclude Ng and, for that matter based on age, Theo. the interview of Ng does fulfill the MLB directive that a minority be interviewed for the job. But I gotta believe one of the reasons that gillick, Bowden & Hart names came up in the first place was these are older experienced GM's who scout with their eyes not a computer.

Today, I have a big, yawming grunt. Grunt. I think I need to go focus on something else for a while. Kudos to Jon, as he seems capable of keeping his mind on this stuff from day to day. I am finding it exhausting. Just six days after they fire DePodesta and I'm spent.

Gillick, Hunsicker, Hart, Ng, Bowden, Epstein....

SABR, Experience, Leadership skills, Dodger tradition...

McCourt, McCourt, McCourt, McCourt... I often wondered what it felt like to be a Yankee fan with Steinbrenner being the owner. Please, oh highest power in the land, do not let me find out!

Sorry, I just had to get that out....

Firing Paul DePodesta is a craven, spineless P.R. move easily scouted even without having to use a computer.

I hope not, but if I had doubts, this past season would have only amplified them. Not that I would forget that a starting pitcher is a higher priority. But who would I be anyway? Are there still people that work in the Dodger organization that actually plan ahead? I'm almost expecting Ng to get canned, too.

I was asked about how many tickets I would buy, what I liked about the stadium, what I didn't like, etc. Standard stuff.

I was asked at the end:
Do you know the name of the owner of the Dodgers?
Frank McCourt.
What sort of opinion do you have of him? (then given choices)
Most unfavorable

I was also asked where I got my primary information about the Dodgers. My choices were the LA Times, ESPN.com, Dodgers.com or nothing. I told her Dodgerthoughts.com. She dutifully typed it in.

I put my name down to serve as part of a focus group, although I doubt I would get chosen for that.

But it was interesting.

They must have culled my name from the list of people who bought tickets online because the woman asked for "Bob" instead of "Robert" as most telemarketers do, such as SBC.

Does anyone else think it would be classless to give Ng a CO-GM spot as if she wasn't capable of doing it all by herself because well she's a woman?

Does anyone else think it would be classless to give Ng a CO-GM spot as if she wasn't capable of doing it all by herself because well she's a woman?

Yes. A couple days ago I listened to my annual 15 minutes of sports talk radio, and Mason and Ireland were talking about how -- if they didn't get the "best" candidate, Bowden -- the Dodgers might make Hershiser the GM and, since he has so little experience, have AGM Ng tutor him in how to do the job. They never even mentioned the possibility of Ng getting the GM position. I thought it was awful. If Ng would be the one teaching Hershiser how to do the job, why in the world wouldn't she get get it herself?

Stan from Tacoma

Oh and I hope you get on that focus group. Maybe they will give you season tickets for it.

That's 15 years in the game, 8 years of being an assistant GM.

Comparison
J.P. Ricciardi - 15 years baseball experience, as a coach, scout, spent 4 years as director of personnel under Billy Beane before taking GM job with Blue Jays in 2001.
Josh Byrnes - 11 years baseball experience, including scouting director and other positions in Cleveland, 2 years asst. gm in Colorado and 3 years in Boston before taking Arizona job in Oct. 2005;
Jon Daniels - 4 years including 1 year of Asst. GM in Texas before taking GM job this past October.
Brian Cashman - 9 years - not including 3 summers interning due to father's relationship with George, asst. gm for 6 years, hired in February 1998, re-signed in Oct. 2005.

Just putting this out there...
bhsportsguy

I would see it as a very good sign if Hart is hired as a senior consultant (a la Hunsicker in Tampa Bay). Then perhaps there would be a more reasoned approach to the decision on the next manager.

I was also asked about setting up valet parking for people who want to get out fast. (I said I didn't care.)

Also questions about start times of games. I liked Friday games starting at 7:05 instead of 7:35, but I live close to Dodger Stadium, so I was answering in my own self-interest.

There were also questions about when to start games on Sunday: 12:35, 1:05, or 2:05
I thought 12:35 would be best. My theory is that if it's hot, might as well start early and get out before the worst of the heat.

Source: www.dodgers.com

Not that I don't agree Ng has a good background and might possibly be a great GM if given the opportunity BUT, if frank wants any type of credibility (let's not debate Frank & credibility) he would / should hire someone with previous GM experience and more likely someone over the age of 40.

Assume Bradley is gone, LF is "acquired", and Drew in CF.

Fair enough. A vote for Werth to play RF all by himself then.

looks like Ng is following my excel worksheet.

1- dessens isnt coming back- check
2- signs cruz to be 4th outfielder- check

now all she needs to do is sign giles, and trade for zito and i become miss cleo 2.0

Let's see, he worked with Drew. He worked with Finley. Almost no Dodger had anything bad to say about him along these lines except Kent. So, I'm thinking the answer to this question might be "no."

That being said, I think that you have to be in denial to think that Bradley won't be unloaded at this point. McCourt abandoned ship on him long ago. Unless Lasorda takes Bradley under his wing... (sounds almost like a sitcom)

He made $4M last year.

06- 1.75 mil
07- 2.25 mi.

i am sort of going off what we gave ledee last yr to be our 4th outfielder type. it was a 2yrs 2.5 mil deal paying him
05- 1 mil
06- 1.5 mil

Finley, was done (I'll bet begrudingly) and Drew was as much Drew working with him as vice versa. But you're right he did seem to be fine with them. Timebombs don't explode continuously, just when the bell goes off. We don't know what pushes his button but we have seen it on more than one occassion. Anger management may have helped, but MB still needs to do some growing up AND continue his conseling. Alcolholics do best when they continue to go to meetings.

It's too bad because I wish we (the Dodgers) could reap the benfit of his talent.

Man, that whole thing drove me insane.

*LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers and outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. agreed Friday to one-year contract worth a guaranteed $3.21 million.

Cruz joined the Dodgers in August and was one of their most productive hitters in the season's final weeks. He batted .301 with six homers and 22 RBIss in 47 games, and had a .366 on-base percentage.

In a Sept. 7 game against San Francisco, Cruz homered from both sides of the plate, becoming the seventh Dodger in franchise history to do so.

Cruz will earn $2.91 million next season, and the deal includes a 2007 club option at $4.5 million with a $300,000 buyout. He could earn an additional $300,000 per year in performance bonuses.

In eight-plus major league seasons, Cruz has a .250 batting average, with 193 homers and 585 RBIs while playing for Seattle, Toronto, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Boston and Los Angeles.

He was acquired by the Dodgers in exchange for infielder Tony Schrager.*

Why trade Gagne, with one year left on his contract, and sign Wagner to a multi-year contract, with all the inexpensive young arms so close to being ready?

Kind of only half-kidding. Prior to hurting his arm last year, I wonder if that couldn't be an option.

http://www.rotoauthority.com/2005/10/top_50_baseball_2.html

I highly doubt we'll pursue Bengie Molina, but wouldn't be surprised if we went after Morris and Nomar.

Signing Wagner is still silly.

Personally, I think Ng (or Smith, or whoever) did a good job with this deal. Not a bad start if this is the beginning of her GM career...

I think Burnett ends up with the Yanks/Sox top bid, or the Blue Jays if he decides that money isn't everything.

And I don't think Konerko goes back to the ChiSox.

Ha ha.

C Navarro
1B JT Snow or Darrin Erstad- good character guys
2B Jeff Kent (Frank McCourt is a hypocrit and he needs Kent's star power to keep the fans happy)
SS Royce Clayton- good character guy
3B Joe Randa- good character guy
LF Rondell White- good in the clubhouse, is a leader
CF J.D. Drew
RF Jose Cruz- cheap

So our batting order next year
1. Royce Clayton- fast, good bunter
2. Snow/Erstad- they know how to make productive outs
3. Drew
4. Kent
5. White- clutch
6. Randa- good contact hitter
7. Navarro- Hatcher will make him aggressive like Benji Molina
8. Cruz- strikes out too much, so he'll hit at the bottom of the order

Manager: Mickey Hatcher

-The Dodgers will lead the league in sacrifice bunts, leaders on the team:
1. Snow/Erstad- 20
2. Clayton- 15
3. Drew- 10
-The Dodgers will lead the league in productive outs
-The The Dodgers will be in the bottom quarter of runs scored

Projections:
Clayton- .245/.290/.345 30 SB 15 CS
Snow/Erstad .270/.330/.380 Snow 0 SB 3 CS, Erstad 20 SB 8 CS
Drew .280/.380/.470 15 SB 4 CS
Kent .280/.340/.480 3 SB 6 CS
White .275/.320/.440 2 SB 4 CS
Randa .270/.330/.400 1 SB 4 CS
Navarro .295/.320/.425 1 SB 5 CS
Cruz .250/.350/.420 8 SB 7 CS

"But as for your questions, my biggest adjustment has just been being more selective at the plate. Instead of just going up there without a plan and just swinging at the first pitch and throwing at-bats away, I wait to get my pitch in my zone and try not to miss it."

What does this tell us?

If the Dodgers are really going after Wagner then either he has agreed to setup Gagne or Gagne has requested a trade as he is locked in for next year.

Neither is irrational. b) would cause Plaschke to have a stroke.

Jon, great turn of phrase. Your writing is always first class.

But it's more fun to talk about acquiring players than wondering who the McCourts will behead next.

loney at 1b: below average power, gold glove defense.

i dont really understand moving loney to rf/lf

Just say no, Ng.

Like the sound Curley makes on the three stooges

I'd like to see it followed up with a trade with the Reds for one of their outfielders not named Griffey. While I'm dreaming, sign Matt Morris to one of those idiotic-yet-par-for-the-course 3 year / $30M contracts.

Lastly, set the MLB record for most relievers signed in one offseason to non-guaranteed contracts.

The Wagner rumor seems like random speculation. The only mention of LA is:

"Wagner is also a fan of new Tigers' third base coach Gene Lamont from when the two were together in Houston. Other interest will likely come from Boston, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and both Chicago teams."

Doesn't sound like it's a done deal. Though my opinion of Ng would change if the rumors were true. Gagne is younger and presumably more durable. I think his injury was fairly "freakish." I'd rather spend the money on Giles, of course.

BTW, Gagne and Ngage are anagrams.

Some quotes:
Jim Bowden is "one of the worst people in the world."
- Ron Oester, Reds coach

"We had a handshake deal that he wasn't going to trade me. Three months later, he traded me ... If I had been in the room with him, I would have killed him."
- Jeff Shaw, Dodgers reliever

"They say what goes around comes around. If that be the case, then he's going to get his some day."
- Dave Collins, ex-Reds coach

"Jim is not humble, but we're not running for prom king here. We're trying to win a division."
- Bill Reik, Reds minority owner

"Jim had a penchant for trying to eliminate people," Mr. Quinn says, "which is unfortunate as hell. It's almost to the point where the guy can't help himself. If he perceives someone is encroaching on his turf, he takes the (steps) to eliminate them."

Former Reds public relations director Jon Braude says the only time he's come to blows in his life was when he struck Mr. Bowden for screaming at him in an argument over TV coverage. About the same time, Mr. Bowden fired minor-league field coordinator Jim Tracy in a loud and public scene after they failed to reach contract terms.

Mr. Tracy, now manager of the Dodgers, is brief and cryptic when asked about his experience with Mr. Bowden. "I'm not real good at throwing stones," he says.

"I've never been a part of an organization where there was less harmony, less encouragement, (people) not supporting one another, never knowing what the true purpose was," Collins says. "You've got to understand the importance of chemistry, and I don't think he does."

The Los Angeles Dodgers also expressed interest, Mr. Bowden says, but backed off when a story was leaked alleging that he had been fired for stealing computer files.
So he's a computer hacker too! Bill Plaschke isn't going to like him.

This article is a must read.

This is the most significant news of the day.

Keeping the payroll in the $80M's, we've got about $15M+ to play with.

Need a 4th starter - can Lilly be had for, say, $8M per? I think so. What about Matt Morris or Jarrod Washburn? If not, how about one from Jamie Moyer or Esteban Loaiza for $5Mish?

So now we need a hitter. Cruz is in the bag. What about the much-speculated on Nomar Garciaparra? He fits at SS/3B, and could still be had for a realtive bargain. How about 2yrs/$15M for Nomar?

With just these two additions, the Dodgers would have a lineup of:

Aybar - 3B
Nomar - SS
Drew - CF
Kent - 2B
Choi - 1B
Cruz - RF
Werth - LF
Navarro - C

and a rotation of:
Penny
Lowe
OPerez
Lilly
Houlton

all for < $88M. Now if McCourt wants to step up and add another starter, or put a big bat in the lineup to displace Werth, that gets him into the $90M's.

However, this seems to be somewhat similar to the team we all had pegged to be division champs this year. And I'm not seeing any of the other teams in the division drastically improving this offseason either.

VORP/win shares, 2005:

wagner
30.5/16

morris
18.9/7

now, obviously our need isn't as great for an ace reliever as for a starter, since we've presumably still got eric gagne, but i still don't see why we should pay matt morris all that money for 3 years, especially when we've got jackson, billingsley, orenduff, miller, broxton all waiting in the wings.

frankly i would pass on both of those guys, though.

CAn anybody else confirm?

Unfortunately, that may be why Lasorda likes him too.

I'd be surprised if even 2 out of these 5 "highly touted" prospects pitched with a positive VORP for more than 3 seasons at the major league level. The pickle is not knowing which 3 will fail until after the fact.

That being said, I'm very happy to have 5 "highly touted" prospects instead of pinning our hopes on 1 guy.

I'm not saying Matt Morris is the savior, but he's above average and he can move down the rotation as time goes by.

Last year's offseason proved fiscal sanity is out the window and if you want a pitcher with decent skills, you better sign him early and overpay for the privledge.

Depo wouldve won the west with Evans team and if Evans wins the West he wouldve won it with Depo's team.

This is irony. Bowden does nothing but trade for middle relief, and Evans won't trade middle relievers. A quandary.

"Wagner is also a fan of new Tigers' third base coach Gene Lamont from when the two were together in Houston. Other interest will likely come from Boston, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and both Chicago teams."

Is this the only mention anywhere? If so, how do we know that this refers to the Dodgers and not the LAAofA?

Do people generally think that Depo would have tried to resign Cruz?

It seems quite likely, though obviously not a certainty, that Ng et al. made a deal that DePo was already working on. Presumably, DePo had already had thoughts about Cruz, and had discussed those thoughts with others in the front office. There's no reason to think that all plans were scrapped completely when DePo was fired. For now, they may just be carrying on from where he left off.

Finally, does anyone else suspect that the Evans rumor could have been started by that confusing sentence in the Times today (discussed on the previous thread)? I wouldn't mind him back.

we should either sign another pitcher for less money/years, or trade for one, but there's no reason to overpay that much for mediocrity that can be replaced with a little creativity.

i like lilly all right. 2y/$16M is a lot easier to swallow than 3y/$30M.

you think a 2-year contract for el duque, heavily incentivized, might work out? he could be a swingman, a la wilson alvarez.

that seems like an awfully luxurious strategy though.

i wonder how much he would cost. $6 million?

Brazoban 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Osoria 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
O Perez 1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K (he hasn't pitched since the first day, not sure why)
Pimental 0 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
A Gonzalez (FA) 4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
B Perez (FA) 7.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K

Aybar 42 AB, .143/.182/.262, 1 HR, 2 BB, 9 K
Guzman 29 AB, .276/.400/.586, 2 HR, 5 BB, 6 K
A Perez 8 AB, .250/.400/.625, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 K (playing 2B)

Promising starts for Guzman and Brazoban, and hopefully Antonio can keep up in more ABs

- LATimes

If the next GM moves in a direction - lower payroll, add younger players, etc. that many had envisioned if Depodesta were still on the job - then WHY was Paul DePodesta fired?

If we treated this as a variation on the game of CLUE then what are the facts? Was this a crime based on a conspiracy, a power play, or just a case of mistaken identity? What "information" can we trust or rule out?
Our list of suspects, witnesses & bystanders:
Frank McCourt
Tom Lasorda
Jamie McCourt
Orel Hersheiser
Bill Plaschke
TJ Simers
Terry Collins

The possible motives?
Money
Power
Envy
Ignorance
Sloth
Revenge

The game is afoot. Solve the mystery if you can.

Jamie McCourt, out of ignorance, with the stiletto heel in the weight room... No? Damn, I thought I had it....

Brillant. Was the Phillips screwdriver found in the in the front office, behind home plate or first base? I'm going with the crime being committed in all three places.