Maybe he was re-signed and it'll be announced soon?

That said, I wouldn't mind Sweeney coming back. He'll probably sign in the $800k - $1m range.

Jeff Kent is going to blow in 2008 and if I wasn't a Dodger fan I'd probably enjoy it very much. No 2nd baseman in the Post-Integration era has ever posted an OPS+ > 105 at the age of 40. Wouldn't you say with Kent's defense he has to post at least an OPS+ > 115 to even be on the field? Look at what Biggio did at age 39 and what happened to him at age 40. Some things you just can't stop. Sucking at 40 is one of them.

Assuming Kent puts up a 25 VORP this year (down from 40 and change) and a -15 (down from -13 this year) on defense, Abreu would have to be at +15, pretty close to elite defensively, to match his production. (You're going to have to trust me on this math for now, I'll do a further writeup in a few days).

Age / Biggio OPS+ / Kent OPS+

35 / 110 / 119
36 / 88 / 122
37 /96 / 133
38 / 104 / 119
39 / 104 / 121
40 / 84 / TBD

I think the Dodgers will be just fine at 2B in 2008. Kent will probably play 120 games or so, with Abreu filling in the balance (and will spell Kent defensively in late innings of most games).

I'd be willing to bet Kent posts an OPS+ of at least 110 next season.

Predicated on Pierre not batting eighth, and no new 3B:

Furcal
Pierre
Kemp
Loney
Martin
Kent
Ethier
LaRoche

If LaRoche and Ethier rake, so much the better.

Stan from Tacoma

Dare to dream:

Furcal
Martin
Loney
Kemp
Ethier
LaRoche
Abreu
Pierre

or

Furcal
Martin
Loney
Rodriguez
Kemp
Ethier
Abreu
Pierre

Really, there isn't much thought that needs to go into the Dodger offense - other than how to get Pierre out of the lineup.

Furcal
Ethier
Kemp
Loney
A Jones
LaRoche
Martin
Abreu/Hu

That would be one of the best up the middle defenses with pop from every spot in the lineup except 2nd base.

(sigh)

Mark me down for dos.

Why not let Martin leadoff?

Hopefully the Dodgers can capitalize on a potentially diminishing market for Andruw, the better player of the two.

http://tinyurl.com/29krvx

Outside of Baltimore, is there any other team that would take Pierre?

If A-Rod was signed, The O's would jump at the opportunity to get LaRoche, and Pierre would fill a hole (snicker) for them.....Maybe Pittsburgh?....Doubt Snell could be had for that....

Pierre and LaRoche for minor leage arms...

Furcal SS
Martin C
Loney 1B
A-Rod SS
Kemp CF
Kent(sometimes abreu to the 8th spot) 2B
Ethier RF
Young LF

ah, such a dream....

It's edgy.

His overall line in 2007 was .222/.311/.413/.724, which at least features an ISOd of .089. Still his ISOp was down 121 points from his peak in 2005 and his average was the lowest its been since 106 at bats his rookie year. His BABIP is only .248, well below the expected BABIP .292 for his 27.2 LD%, though he has been way under 3 years in a row. The real problem is that his HR/FB is down from the 20s in 05 and 06 to only 13.4% in 07. That is a huge decrease in power and since he doesn't seem likely to ever hit for average to be worth the contract he will no doubt get he will need to hit 35+ home runs a year. I worry that he won't get back there, but I still prefer him to Torii Hunter.

or this way:

SS SS

I agree.

And I'm not excited about it.

Just for comparison, Andre Ethier 2006:
.308/.365/.477 113 OPS+
Similar ceiling?

"...I'd expect something more in the .280/.360/.430 neighboorhood"

Just for comparison, Andre Ethier 2007:
.284/.350/.452 103 OPS+
Same neighborhood.

Good show on both ends; yours to retrieve the Blackberry and make the effort to reunite it with its owner, and his for showing good etiquette and appreciation. My faith in humankind is restored.

That's my philosophy in life and six acquittals in court must prove that I'm right!

Torre and his coaches might decide the real problem on the team isn't Kemp or Kent, but Pierre.

They set some benchmarks for him, like increasing the number of pitches he's supposed to take.

Pierre fails to reach benchmark and otherwise doesn't improve.

He's benched.

Jones Kemp and Ethier lead the team on a tear through the national league. (or Young)

Pierre is given another chance, results like before. Benched.

Jones Kemp and Ethier lead the team on another tear through the NL.

Colletti says, Joe, what should I do.

Joe says, he's worthless, I can't use him. Put him on waivers. Hopefully someone will take him off your hands for 50 cents on the dollar and a low level prospect. Otherwise, just eat him.

Ned says, thank you Father.

Joe says, now go and sin no more.

>> Wyoming coach Joe Glenn apologized Monday for making an obscene gesture to the Utah team after the Utes tried an onside kick while ahead by 43 points. <<

http://tinyurl.com/2ndcqd

Both of whom have humiliating losses to Utah on their resumes.

>> "When I spoke to Omar,'' Wright said, "he told me, `Be prepared to be the third baseman in 2008. That's what I took from it and that's the way I'm going about it.

"Alex Rodriguez's name did not come up at any point.'' <<

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21759896

At least, it better be about getting rid of a certain person.

He'll be back.

>> 6. Torii Hunter to the Dodgers

Juan Pierre is still under contract, but he's a massive liability for the Dodgers. He's terrible at the plate and roundly overrated with the glove. Yes, he's only one year into that deliriously stupid five-year, $44 million contract, but it's time to treat him as a sunk cost. That means unloading him for whatever you can get (rosin bags, used jocks, canned wine) or relegating him to a reserve role. Playing Pierre on a daily basis will only compound such a bad decision. Throughout baseball last season, only the White Sox endured worse production from center field, so the Dodgers badly need an upgrade. That brings us to Hunter. Defensively Hunter is exceptional, and he'd also provide L.A. with some much-needed power. Hunter's also more of a known quantity than the other premier center fielder on the market, Andruw Jones. <<

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7431662

Rivera, who turns 38 on Nov. 29, said Monday if he couldn't reach a deal with New York, he would consider following manager Joe Torre to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The closer is expected to receive a three-year contract. "The Yankees are my first option," he said in Santo Domingo. "But if that is not possible, there is Joe with the Dodgers."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21754425/

The problem with that story is the fact that JP won't be traded. I just can't see Ned trading him unless he could convince Baltimore to put together a package with Tejada. I would be for a salary dump with Pierre, but just don't see that happening.

I think every day forward from here increases the likelihood that Kent will not return. And personally, that doesn't bother me a bit. I've never liked the guy and think that his defensive liability will outweigh his offensive production next year.

Other than that, I really just don't know what the team should do beyond pick up a spot starter/long reliever type to round out the rotation. I'd like to see Young get a chance along with Ethier and Kemp, and I have this feeling that Hunter and/or Jones is going to be more trouble than they're worth.

At least one of the schools listed above is a Division I school.

Do we even need him?

Ned will survive if the Dodgers win the division in 2008. If they don't, trying to spin Pierre as a positive isn't going to save him. It'll have to be some other liferaft.

In addition to Professionalism, Leadership, Winnerocity, HavingBeenThereBeforeNess, etc., I wonder if Torre will also bring the following:

An expectation that the payroll is unlimited and ownership will spare no expense to acquire "his" players.

...?

>> "He holds players accountable for how they play, a butt-kicker that some of the young guys need. <<

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/485277.html

Who knows what they told the recruits though, regarding coaching situation. Seems to be a lot of rumors that Walker is going to get the job and he is going to bring in an offensive coordinator from the NFL.

Better than Rich Brooks, I guess.

That's one of the numbers I'd like to see, runs due to error for fielders. And then do a ratio to runs created offensively. Adding his poor rating in the (+/-) ranking, I don't think Kent would look as valuable.

Colletti explores free-agent options

>> But Colletti left open the possibility of signing a free-agent center fielder or third baseman. He wouldn't discuss any specific player.

The need for a center fielder would arise if the Dodgers, as expected, move weak-armed Juan Pierre to left. Pierre's potential replacements include Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand. If the Dodgers fail to lure one of them, they could move Matt Kemp from right to center. <<

## The prize at third base would be Alex Rodriguez, but Colletti said the Dodgers still haven't decided whether they will pursue him. Rodriguez could cost more than $30 million a season. ##

%% Right-hander Chin-hui Tsao, who was out-righted to triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, elected free agency %%

http://tinyurl.com/3x77ua

Also, when my buddy and I were brainstorming, we couldn't come up with someone good. The bet I came up with was Mike Price.

Colletti said he considered the Dodgers' present options at third base to be viable. He said he is hoping that Nomar Garciaparra will recapture his 2006 form, when he was the National League comeback player of the year, and that he has been encouraged by the performances of Andy LaRoche at the Baseball World Cup in Taiwan.

Looks like another "kick the door down" situation for LaRoche. I just hope he hits .630 in spring training.

Roll Tide, anyone?