You are cool to me Professor. I only have a very old B.S. degree in your field. In fact, you're beyond cool, a Golden God second only to the likes of Dijkstra and Knuth! (Rule 6?)

man, I can't wait to see Meloan pitch at Dodger Stadium, I really hope Andy La Roche is 100% now.

This off-season will be interesting to see how teams manage their free agents.

Will the Angels offer arbitration to Bartolo Colon, not likely since they could be on the hook for a one year deal for no less than 11.2 million and with his current 7-11 record for the last 2 years, he is not even going to rank as a Type B free agent. Other pitchers include Joe Nathan, who will have his option exercised, the Yankees will resign Rivera, I think Hoffman already guaranteed his 2008 contract. Bobby Abreu has a team option for 16 million or a buyout for 2 million.

Right now, the only 2 players I can see be given arbitration are Andruw Jones and Torii Hunter.

I think the Padres will try and sign Milton Bradley and hope Michael Barrett has a good last month. For one thing, Milton just may not have enough statistics to be worth a Type B free agent (remember it is based on his last 2 seasons and the now you have to finish in the top 40% as opposed to 50% before) and Michael Barrett, while he should be still worth some draft picks, what is worth in the open market. And frankly, if Milton is healthy, he is worth more than a draft pick.

They could be better off trying to get them to sign one-year deals since they don't have any depth in their minor league system anyway.

1B, Saenz... no.
1B, Sweeney... aah, no.
1B, Hillenbrand... no, we need him at third.
1B, Martinez... that's the ticket!

Don't get me wrong, Meloan should be fine but I can't see him being say better than Broxton.

The player can still make your playoff roster. The K-Rod loophole still exists.

I think our best hope, my hope at least, is that Meloan is Broxton II or perhaps a little worse. His minor league performance shows every indication that he will dominate in the majors.

Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Double-A Jacksonville (Dodgers)

Earlier this month, the Dodgers promoted Kershaw to Double-A. After striking out 10 over seven innings on Saturday while allowing just two hits, Kershaw has limited Southern League hitters to a .153 batting average in 21.1 innings while punching out 25. Have we mentioned that he's just 19 years old? It's been a long time since we've seen a left-handed prospect this young and this good, with one scout recently comparing him to "Scott Kazmir with five more inches and 30 more pounds." That's a scary proposition, and Kershaw is the best pitching prospect in baseball, but remember it's anything but a sure thing with pitchers. How many fans have kind of forgotten about Francisco Liriano? If Kershaw needs his own reminder on how fleeting prospect greatness can be, there's always Greg Miller, who like Kershaw dominated Double-A as a teenager, and four years later is still in that Double-A rotation.

"3. Clayton Kershaw, lhp, Double-A Jacksonville (Dodgers)

Kershaw skipped high Class A after going 7-5, 2.77 with a 134-50 strikeout-walk ratio in 97 innings at low Class A Great Lakes. And while the seventh overall pick in 2006 went through some predictable growing pains early on in Double-A, he's locked in now.

Last week, the 19-year-old lefty went 1-0, 0.69 with 18 strikeouts in 14 innings.
...

11. Justin Ruggiano, of, Triple-A Durham (Devil Rays)

Along with center fielder Jason Pridie and third baseman Evan Longoria, Ruggiano has been one of the biggest reasons for Durham's surge to the top of the IL's Southern Division standings. Over his last 10 games, the Texas A&M product has hit .429 with three homers, five doubles and 11 RBIs. Ruggiano, 25, has hit a surprising .310/.383/.508 this season with 19 homers and 26 steals. The caveat: 142 whiffs in 118 games."

That is all.

Josh Fogg
Jason Jennings
Freddy Garcia (I don't think the Phillies risk offering him though since he makes 10M)
Livan Hernandez
Steve Trachsel
Kip Wells
Carlos Silva
Kyle Lohse

Nate gets nervous when all these compliments start pouring in.

Thank you.

That is why I think they are looking at Orenduff, Wade, Wright, Kyle Wilson, etc. While I think McDonald will be in the mix in spring training and Kershaw will get invited to the major league camp, it will important to make sure no pitcher who can be of some help here or be traded for other depth has to be carefully considered.

I think there are at least 10 spots on the 40 man roster that can be filled with players in our system, though we may not need all of them.

It appears to me that any help the Dodgers get pitching wise, is going to come from who is on the team now or is in the system.

:: goes back to hole ::

"If you're cold, I'll keep you warm"

- Dido

So I'm not rooting for anybody tonight.

Bob: "Can't understand why this guy keeps getting traded. One of toughest offensive weapons in baseball. . . . Always leads the league in hits . . ."

Don: "Well, his defense might be considered expendable. . . . rainbow arm . . ."

:: heads back to hole : :

Don: "This is not a good start for the Nationals."

aw crap.

How are we doing now?

that is all.

Sigh.

He also nicely talked about needing to stop and take it all in when he stepped out on the mound "where so many of the good things in my life happened to me."

But I'll be sad when he leaves us, Sam.