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About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with

Coach, Husband, Father, Scout
2008-01-22 19:40
by Jon Weisman

In Friday Night Lights, Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) took an assistant coaching job at the equivalent of the University of Texas, only to quit in midseason to rejoin his wife and daughters (one a teenager, the other an infant) back in the smaller town of Dillon.

If Jack Curry's article in the New York Times is any indication (link courtesy of commenter Dodgers49), something similar happened with erstwhile Dodger hitting coach Don Mattingly.

As recently as last month, Mattingly spoke excitedly about his new position. But Ray Schulte, Mattingly's agent, said unspecified family issues caused Mattingly to revise his plans.

"Everything is fine medically," said Schulte, referring to Mattingly's family. "It really boils down to he's got Kim and Jordon at home and that's his priority. With the change in jobs and the constant traveling, he couldn't do it and also be there for his family. He couldn't do both." ...

Schulte said that Mattingly and (Dodger manager Joe) Torre typically speak every day and that Mattingly planned to remain as available as possible to Torre. ...

Schulte said Mattingly expected to return to a regular coaching position with the Dodgers in 2009.

"He's looking forward to next year when he can do it full time," Schulte said. "He still wants to be a manager some day."

Tony Jackson of the Daily News asked Dodger general manger Ned Colletti about Mattingly in '09.

"We're open-minded to it," Colletti said.

"We'll see how it goes, but that is all I can say right now. I can't predict the future for Donnie. He will continue to work in the organization, but he'll be able to spend more time back home, which is important to him. From time to time, he will be with the club or take a look around the minor leagues. He'll continue to stay vested with the Dodgers and continue to contribute."

Mattingly will attend the early stages of spring training. During the season, he is expected to make occasional visits to the Dodgers' minor-league affiliates, as well as joining the big-league club as a pregame instructor during visits to cities near Evansville such as Chicago, Cincinnati and possibly Milwaukee and St. Louis. ...

While being careful not to officially confirm that Mattingly was ever in line to replace Torre, Colletti indicated that if he was, that hasn't necessarily changed.

"It's too early to tell, but my opinion of him hasn't changed," Colletti said. "I think there is still a great amount of intellect that he can bring to the organization, and we're glad he is still a part of the organization. We will see what transpires in the next months and years and how it all grows together. But I could have said that back in November."

As Jackson points out, Mattingly's future affects the future of his replacement, Mike Easler. Easler might be sensitive to this. Back in 2001, he filed a lawsuit against the St. Louis Cardinals after being relieved of his hitting coach duties - only to almost immediately drop the suit.

According to The Associated Press:

The suit, filed in state court, charges the Cardinals with wrongful termination, defamation of character and invasion of privacy, and seeks damages in excess of $25,000 and additional punitive damages.

"Mike wants closure to this," said James Schottel Jr., Easler's attorney. "He wants another opportunity to be a hitting coach and eventually an opportunity as a manager."

Easler was in his third season with the Cardinals when he was reassigned July 13. He was offered a spot as a roving minor league hitting coach and declined. ...

In the petition, Easler admits he missed a nine-game road trip prior to the All-Star break, blaming the absence on several unspecified health conditions. But he insists he kept the Cardinals informed of his whereabouts and treatment.

Easler charges that Cardinals trainer Barry Weinberg and team physician Jim Loomis asked an emergency room doctor at Saint Louis University Hospital to "give (Easler) some medicine and tell (Easler) to catch the next flight out in the morning" to rejoin the Cardinals on the road.

Instead, Easler went home to San Antonio and was treated by his personal doctor. When he rejoined the club, the suit says, the Cardinals informed Easler he was being replaced.

"After years of advancing through the major league baseball system, (the Cardinals) deliberately rendered (Easler's) working condition, in being demoted to the minors, so intolerable that (Easler) was forced to resign and thus constructively discharged," the suit says.

The suit also alleges that public comments made by Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty about Easler's removal -- specifically "Mike had some personal issues he had to deal with" -- were knowingly false and have "caused irreparable harm ... in that (Easler) is and will be unable to find employment in major league baseball as a hitting coach or manager."

Easler later "retracted" the suit, according to Baseball-Reference.com - apparently a week later.

* * *

Josh Wilker once wrote about Easler at Cardboard Gods. Or, more to the point, he used Easler as a jumping off point ...

Comments (91)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-01-22 20:15:40
1.   Suffering Bruin
Can we please, please, pretty please get a hitting coach who doesn't have issues? I mean, I'm all for controversy and a colorful past and present--I like the storyline, I have a weakness for gossip when it comes to sports but, holy moly on a popsicle stick... Jack Clark, Eddie Murray, Bill Mueller (highest paid coach ever?)... I guess it started with Clark.

I was looking forward to Mattingly in the dugout. I hope Easler is very effective and doesn't miss too much time.

2008-01-22 20:17:12
2.   Suffering Bruin
I do like that Easler was a jumping off point for one of Wilker's entries. That's a job well done, Mr. Easler. Well done.
2008-01-22 20:17:26
3.   Suffering Bruin
Can you tell I'm trying to avoid grading papers? I can't tell...
2008-01-22 20:25:45
4.   gvette
1 If lack of anger management control counts as "issues" you're going to love Larry Bowa
2008-01-22 20:27:54
5.   Marty
I was just going to say why can't Larry Bowa spend more time with his family.
2008-01-22 20:36:21
6.   Bluebleeder87
4

I think most of us rather have Larry Bowa than Rich Donnelly.

2008-01-22 20:36:26
7.   Sam DC
I just don't even know where to begin with the razzing I got at the end of the last thread.

But if writers didn't sometimes extend words in creative but understandable and meaningful ways, we would have a very dull language.

Next thing you'll be telling me that a geek can only mean a carny that bites the heads off chickens.

Pfoeey!

2008-01-22 20:37:22
8.   RELX
From the New York Times, November 9, 2004:

"Mattingly had been out of baseball for eight years, after his retirement in 1995, when the principal owner George Steinbrenner offered him the job of hitting coach after the 2003 season. Mattingly accepted with the blessing of his family, signing a one-year deal to see how he enjoyed a job that took him away from his home in Evansville, Ind.

Family concerns prompted Mattingly to reconsider a return next season, but he told The Daily News that his family approved of his staying with the Yankees."

Beyond that, there are multiple articles from 2000 on about Mattingly thinking about taking a job with the Yankees, but not being sure if he wants to leave his farm and family. I think this is an issue that Mattingly has struggled with for years. Frankly, I would be surprised if he comes back to the Dodgers full time next year, and would be even more surprised if he ever winds up as the team's manager.

2008-01-22 20:45:12
9.   Suffering Bruin
Somebody razzin' Marty? Don't be razzin' Marty! I will pull out the predicate-nominative on y'all, aight?

Seriously, I have students who talk like that. They mix in the smart with the jive. It's like listening to jazz.

2008-01-22 20:48:07
10.   68elcamino427
Did Kempzilla drop the trashcan on Mattingly during his recent appearance at Dodger Stadium?
2008-01-22 20:50:46
11.   Bob Timmermann
9
We were razzing Sam. It's an entirely different thing.

However Sam has subpoena power, so we should be careful.

2008-01-22 20:51:15
12.   Lexinthedena
So ESPN.com finally has one of those chat debates that includes a Dodger, in this case Russ Martin v Joe Mauer, and it ends up being "Insider" only....Corporate America is a parasite of Anocondian proportions...
2008-01-22 20:53:06
13.   Dodgers49
8 Frankly, I would be surprised if he comes back to the Dodgers full time next year, and would be even more surprised if he ever winds up as the team's manager.

Makes you wonder how this would have played out had he been chosen as the Yankees' manager?

2008-01-22 20:57:38
14.   Icaros
Wow, Suffering Bruin just added to the "Way to go, Sean!" legend.
2008-01-22 21:00:55
15.   gvette
6 Bowa is not only capable of getting runners thrown out at the plate with the same alarming frequency as Donnelly, but adds the dimension of being able to tell the beat reporters that back in his day when ballplayers hustled, Greg Luzinski would have scored standing up on the play.
2008-01-22 21:10:59
16.   Xeifrank
Sorry if this is a dumb question but what is Friday Night Lights?
vr, Xei
2008-01-22 21:22:32
17.   Eric Enders
"Dodgers GM Ned Colletti built this team, and is reluctant to trade his young players like Takashi Saito, but it may be that if Los Angeles springs leaks, he may need to trade some veterans like Mario Alvarez (despite being as rough as ever) or Tony Abreu."

- Score Bard's random Gammons generator

2008-01-22 21:23:10
18.   CanuckDodger
16 -- A TV show.
2008-01-22 21:23:42
19.   Eric Enders
16 It's a book and a movie and a TV show, in that order. In this instance Jon is talking about the TV show. Except he said the University of Texas where I suspect he really meant Texas Tech.
2008-01-22 21:25:34
20.   Jason in Canada
my wifes favorite show.

Also a book and and movie!

About Texas high school football.

2008-01-22 21:27:00
21.   Xeifrank
18,19. Thanks. I'm gonna have to start watching more TV to keep up with you all. :) vr, Xei
2008-01-22 21:36:43
22.   Jon Weisman
19 - Since it's fictional anyway, does it matter? I assumed it was UT. Does Smash really dream of going to Texas Tech?
2008-01-22 21:37:53
23.   Bob Timmermann
22
Would any human in their right mind dream of going to Texas Tech?
2008-01-22 21:41:32
24.   CanuckDodger
19,22 -- I think "T.M.U." is meant to be a cross between the University of Texas and "S.M.U." -- Southern Methodist University, which is in Dallas, Texas.
2008-01-22 21:42:22
25.   Sam DC
A Giants blogger speaks: "This offseason has been like watching a loop of The English Patient on the plane ride to Hell. Boredom upon boredom before the eternal torment: Our lot has been cast. This is really what we have to talk about a month before pitchers and catchers report? A question asking if we prefer Durham's carcass to Feliz's carcass? Yeesh."

http://tinyurl.com/34jg8y

2008-01-22 21:47:38
26.   LAT
As for Ned's comments about 2009, I'm guessing that if the Dodgers miss the post season Ned will need not concern himslef with whether Donny Baseball or anyone else is here in 2009.

As for Easler's lawsuit I have to give him credit for having the stones to sue the Cards but in the big picture it makes me question his judgment. Filing a defamation suit against your emplyer is no small matter, even if it the Cardinals)

2008-01-22 21:56:17
27.   LAT
25. Sam, that same article extended a word in a creative but understandable and meaningful way. "Neifastasizes." As in "He'll be 36, though, and it isn't as if 36-year-old second basemen need to give a written warning before their offensive performance neifastasizes."
2008-01-22 21:57:16
28.   gvette
26 Actually, you have to credit whomever decided the wisest thing was to pull the lawsuit back. Easler is a baseball lifer, didn't make enough during his playing career to live off of for the rest of his life, and either was going to have to work again in baseball, or, less likely, get enough damages from the lawsuit to substitute for the future lost earnings.

On the other hand, Mattingly as the reigning Yankee superstar of the 80's probably made over $3 mil/year for a long time + endorsements, and may not have the financial need to be in baseball, as opposed to his need to address his family issues.

2008-01-22 22:20:54
29.   Marty
SB, thanks for having my back. I'll count on it in the future when I make some asinine statement. Which should be in about 12 hours.

Or now.

2008-01-22 22:23:36
30.   popup
About ten years ago or so I shared a Tacoma Triple A season ticket with a mental health professional who worked for the local mental health agency in Tacoma. I spotted a kid who was wearing a LA Dodger cap and a Yankee t-shirt in the crowd at Cheney Stadium and I told my friend the MHP that he should detain the young fellow for mental health treatment on the spot. My friend laughed and said that for sure the kid was confused.

I really think that kid in a way is Frank McCourt. It seems to me McCourt is a fellow who wears a Dodger cap and at times a Red Sox shirt (Bill Mueller and Nomar) a Yankee shirt (Torre, Mattingly et al) and even a Giants shirt (Ned and his collection of San Francisco treats--- Ramon Martinez, Tomko, Sweeney et al)

As a lifelong Dodger fan about the only thing I can say is that it is tough to have any allegiance to the Foxes and McCourts because I don't think they have any real allegiance to the Dodgers.

Stan from Tacoma

2008-01-22 22:58:12
31.   underdog
This is the theme for the day: It just occurred to Mark Hendrickson that he could get his eyes checked. It just occurred to Don Mattingly that he would have to be away from him his family a lot and travel a lot during the season as a coach. Ah well, hindsight is 20-20, or for Big Bird it's 20-200.

Hey, anyone know a good place to get a Russell Martin jersey and not spend 100 bucks? Ebay?

2008-01-22 23:01:53
32.   Xeifrank
Peter Gammons has Dodger Thoughts bookmarked.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/01/gammons-digs-bl.html

vr, Xei

2008-01-22 23:04:29
33.   Xeifrank
Rain is getting heavy here in the VTC. Headed your way LA. (SFW, weather related)
http://tinyurl.com/r9fl4
vr, Xei
2008-01-23 00:03:34
34.   Eric Stephen
From the new Diamond Leung blog post, Joe Beimel looks like a skinnier Anton Chigurh. If he goes to arbitration, he will have no representation, only a fully loaded oxygen tank.
2008-01-23 00:04:51
35.   Eric Stephen
I forgot to link in 34 :

http://tinyurl.com/34llnb

2008-01-23 04:30:52
36.   Ken Noe
32 Dear Peter: We love you. We're happy your health has returned. Please tell McCourt that JP needs to be benched or traded. He'll listen to you; you're from Boston. Deepest respect, Ken
2008-01-23 06:05:57
37.   Bumsrap
Colletti: Pierre and Furcal could get 100 stolen bases between them. Kemp and Ethier could get 20 homeruns between them.

I guess our hopes rest with Torre to make the right lineup decisions as Colletti seems to be locked in with Pierre.

2008-01-23 06:59:58
38.   Jacob L
This post hits so close to home its almost scary. On one hand, I'm considering a job change that would cost me a not inconsiderable amount of time with my kids. In the meantime my current gig is saddling me with assignments that make my average workday intolerable.

You'd think this would be comforting, but actually, the last thing I want to find out is that baseball is made up of real people with problems like the rest of us. Guess I'll meander over to Cardboard Gods.

2008-01-23 07:02:30
39.   Penarol1916
19. I always thought that TMU was a comination of UT and TAMU, because like Bob said, have you ever heard of a kid whose dream it was to go to Texas Tech? Also, the way TMU is referred to and the facilities it appears to have mean that it could only be one of the two big boys of the state.
2008-01-23 07:03:05
40.   Jon Weisman
So, I guess Don Mattingly got married when he was 18?

http://tinyurl.com/2tnfex

2008-01-23 07:06:51
41.   RZG
15 While Bowa was with the Yanks I only remember him making one mistake sending a runner when he shouldn't have, and it wasn't because he was being conservative.
2008-01-23 07:09:03
42.   LAT
34/35 Have to give Joe credit for a sense of humor. And frightningly he does look like Anton Chigurh.
2008-01-23 07:16:59
43.   D4P
38
Can't your current employer create a position for you that allows you to stay home with your kids but still get paid?
2008-01-23 07:20:28
44.   Bob Timmermann
40
"Mattingly and his wife, who were high school sweethearts, have been married since Sept. 8, 1979."

Mattingly was born 4/20/1961.

2008-01-23 07:23:17
45.   Josh Wilker
38 : "You'd think this would be comforting, but actually, the last thing I want to find out is that baseball is made up of real people with problems like the rest of us. Guess I'll meander over to Cardboard Gods."

Where the door's always open and the idea that baseball players are actual guys is always avoided. They are gods and that's it! Flimsy gods, of course, but gods.

As for Easler, he certainly had his disciples when he was hitting coach for the Bosox. I think Mo Vaughn continued to seek his council even after Easler was no longer employed by the team.

2008-01-23 07:31:59
46.   ToyCannon
43
In the real world companies bend over all the time for their employee's. It all depends on the company. When mine moved from Santa Monica to Irvine I stopped going into the office 5 days a week and started working from home.
When my best friend needed to move to Kansas for family reasons his Culver City firm decided to let him continue his employment and now he works from home.
I've seen countless example of parents getting flex time to better handle the stress of parenting.
Obviously Jon's employee's know he writes Dodger Thoughts but they give him leeway as long as he does the job he's paid to do.
Corporate America is not based in the 60's anymore and if your a valued employee they will do what it takes to keep your services. At least the good ones will because lets face it, good workers are hard to find.
2008-01-23 07:35:50
47.   Jacob L
43 I was sympathetic to your point in that debate yesterday. I guess the parallel in my case would be the potential new employer making huge concessions to keep me in the fold.

45 Thanks! Be seein' you.

2008-01-23 07:36:21
48.   Penarol1916
43. My large corporate bank employer has done that for at least six women in my division alone. For one, it wasn't even to stay home with the kids, it was because her husband is a pastor and he took over a Church in Iowa, so now she comes back to Chicago for two days a month for work while spending the rest of her time in Iowa.
2008-01-23 07:44:48
49.   Bob Timmermann
47
But America needs more dentists!
2008-01-23 09:19:09
50.   Jacob L
49 No, what America needs is more dental consultants!
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-01-23 09:35:47
51.   D4P
Is Jacob L leaving planning, or accepting another planning-related position?
2008-01-23 09:57:24
52.   cargill06
james shields 5 yrs 35 million, great deal for Tampa espically with how the pitching market is, and he has shown that he is capable of pitching in the AL East
2008-01-23 09:59:00
53.   Humma Kavula
50 Actually, if "dental consultants" is the same thing as "hygienists," America really does need more dental consultants.
2008-01-23 10:00:42
54.   D4P
America needs more dental consultants like this:

http://tinyurl.com/2ws4wh

2008-01-23 10:05:02
55.   Eric Stephen
The Tulo deal will be announced today. Although the full details aren't out yet, it is believed to be 6/$30m. The 6th year is $10m (1st year of FA) with a $15m option for year 7 (2nd year of FA).
2008-01-23 10:10:05
56.   Eric Stephen
52
The deal looks like 4/$12 (through first 2 years of arbitration), with 3 option years that could bring the total package to 7/$40.

If all 3 options are exercised, they cover Shields' first 2 FA years.

http://tinyurl.com/2spt7o

2008-01-23 10:16:48
57.   CajunDodger
55
I know that we have a lot of payroll space after this year (about $50 million by my count with Lowe, Kent, Nomar, Loaiza, and Furcal all gone). I just hope that we can avoid the ugliness that is going on now between the Phillies and Ryan Howard.

Sign the deal Russ!

2008-01-23 10:24:02
58.   Kevin Lewis
31

Under,

I picked up my Ethier jersey on ebay through a store that sews the name and number on the back of authentic Dodger jerseys. It doesn't look quite as good as the $250 ones in the store, but I only paid $55 for it.

2008-01-23 10:24:27
59.   Jacob L
51 Its premature to say, but I've good lead on the next gig, and it would be the latter. After 10 years, what the heck else would I do?
2008-01-23 10:27:37
60.   Bob Timmermann
59
The world of the public library will always welcome you.
2008-01-23 10:41:07
61.   Andrew Shimmin
From the Nate Silver chat (he says PECOTAs should be out within a week), going down right now--

raygu1 (nj): Nate-thanks for the chat. Will Andruw Jones power return in LA this year? I remember reading a quote from Colletti stating that alot of his long outs in ATL would have been out of Dodger Stadium.

Nate Silver: Colletti is right that Dodger Stadium has in fact turned into a pretty decenet home run park, and we're forecasting a bit of a bounceback season for Andruw, but nothing too out of line with expectations. We're probably looking at 25-27 home runs, but the batting average to remain subpar.

2008-01-23 10:42:07
62.   Andrew Shimmin
Then there's this. Too bad he'll be a part time player--

nickojohnson (Los Angeles): Care to give us a quick preview of Matt Kemp's PECOTA? I'm curious as to how it views his BABIP-assisted numbers from last year

Nate Silver: PECOTA: Matt Kemp :: ObamaGirl : Barack Obama. We have him at .297/.349/.505 next year, so the batting average does indeed look like a bit of a fluke, but the isolated power should be right where it ended up last year.

2008-01-23 10:46:18
63.   D4P
but the isolated power should be right where it ended up last year

Kemp's IsoP

2007: 179
2008 (projected): 208

208 doesn't really seem "right where" 179 is

2008-01-23 10:48:43
64.   Andrew Shimmin
Jones's HR total gets revised upwards a few answers later to 29 (with a .486 SLG), with the stated expectation that he'll be spending some time injured. It'd be around 35 if he played 160 games.
2008-01-23 11:00:21
65.   Eric Stephen
The Padres signed Jody Gerut to a minor league deal. He will make $700k if he makes the club, plus some performance incentives.

Current Padres' OF on the 40-Man
Brian Giles (age 37 in 2008)
Jim Edmonds (38)
Scott Hairston (28)
Drew Macias (25)
Paul McAnulty (27)
Chase Headley* (24; expected to move from 3B)

2008-01-23 11:02:47
66.   regfairfield
57 Howard is absolutely insane if he thinks he'll get, or deserves, 11 million in his first year in arbitration. If he has demands like that, they probably wouldn't have been able to deal with him anyway.
2008-01-23 11:08:18
67.   Eric Stephen
66
That's similar to Gagne losing his arbitration case in 2004, after he won the Cy Young, because his figure ($8m) was too high in comparison with similar service time contracts.
2008-01-23 11:10:55
68.   Bob Timmermann
Gagne wanted more money than Mariano Rivera was making at the time. The Dodgers had a very persuasive case to show that he did not have as long of a track record of success as Rivera and that other players with similar service time were way below what he was asking for.
2008-01-23 11:11:22
69.   Andrew Shimmin
nickojohnson (Los Angeles): What do you think of Ned Colletti's offseason? At least it's been better than I expected. Can the Dodgers compete with Arizona in the west next year?

Nate Silver: The Dodgers can certainly compete. In fact, I don't think they're giving up much to anyone in the National League right now. Of course, they'd probably gain 3-4 wins on that projection if Juan Pierre found his way into the Springfield Mystery Spot tomorrow morning.

2008-01-23 11:18:53
70.   Eric Enders
Perhaps Howard's thinking is that he'd be in his second year of arbitration (or beyond) by now had the Phillies actually called him up when he was ready. I don't blame him for trying to stick it to them.
2008-01-23 11:19:34
71.   Eric Stephen
The Howard situation is interesting. From the Phillies point of view, Howard was paid a record for less than 2 years service time last year ($900k), and the Phillies arbitration offer matches the highest ever club arbitration offer for a first time arb eligible (Pujols 2004 -- and Pujols had 3 full years service time, unlike Howard).

But, Howard has a case that he was held down in the minors for far too long (became full time as a 25-year old in 2005), and that's why his service time is so low.

I think Howard loses his arbitration case if it goes to hearing (the offers are $7m & $10m). The only way Howard wins is if he gets extra credit for also serving as corporate manager for Dunder Mifflin.

2008-01-23 11:21:56
72.   Eric Enders
Following up on that, Howard is something of a unique player because he was called up at such a late age that he'll already be an old fat guy by the time he hits free agency for the first time. He'll never have the same opportunity for free agent cash in his career that most players of his caliber do. (Of course, someone'll still give him a lot of money, but he'll never get a Beltran-type deal.)
2008-01-23 11:26:34
73.   Eric Enders
"The only way Howard wins is if he gets extra credit for also serving as corporate manager for Dunder Mifflin."

By the way, how cool is it that baseball Ryan Howard, exactly like the fictional one, also spent two years in Scranton before moving up to the big leagues?

Also, I am really bummed this year because if we're going to have a crappy backup catcher, I'd at least like to have one who stars in the opening credits to The Office. (Dwight Schrute keeps a Lieberthal bobblehead on his desk.)

2008-01-23 11:34:01
74.   Eric Stephen
73 how cool is it that baseball Ryan Howard, exactly like the fictional one, also spent two years in Scranton before moving up to the big leagues?

Ha!! I didn't realize that connection before. That's awesome.

2008-01-23 11:36:48
75.   CajunDodger
72
If he stays healthy, he will get crazy money even in his age 32 FA season. With the way revenue streams are pouring in over the next few years, a $200 million contract in 2012 will look like a $100 million contract did in 2002.

In this world where guys like Torii Hunter get $18 million per in the long term and where Tomko gets $3 million to serve up homeruns to Hafner and Miggy, Howard will get paid plenty when he finally becomes a FA.

I think he will end up losing this round, but the Phillies are playing with fire by not locking him up in today's dollars, even if it is more than they want to pay.

2008-01-23 11:45:52
76.   regfairfield
75 Maybe, I can see Howard being close to done by the time he's 32. He's the one we should be comparing to Mo Vaughn.
2008-01-23 11:59:18
77.   CajunDodger
76
I could also see him being a David Ortiz-type under the right circumstances. However, I think there have been a lot more guys like Vaughn whose weight and injuries ended careers.
2008-01-23 12:01:04
78.   Jon Weisman
NBC is always picking up MLB folk. Heroes has Hiro Nakamura. The Office also has Kevin Malone.
2008-01-23 12:12:25
79.   Bob Timmermann
Although Nakamura prefers to use "Nori" as his nickname.

"Heroes" the TV series is pretty much like Nakamura's Dodgers career. It had a very hot promising beginning and then quickly devolved into nothingness.

2008-01-23 12:15:56
80.   Eric Enders
78 If you ever looked at the names written on the big board in "Homicide," a third or maybe even half of them were major league players.
2008-01-23 12:30:07
81.   ToyCannon
OMG the Clippers are a bloody mess. Can I fire the owner, GM, and coach?
2008-01-23 12:32:30
82.   ToyCannon
The fact that Tomko was not an NRI and got 3 million boggles even my mind which I thought was boggleless after all these years.
2008-01-23 12:37:28
83.   Andrew Shimmin
81- No. But I'm pretty sure one of the contributers to "bhsportsguy" could. So you might try getting on his good side.
2008-01-23 12:41:10
84.   silverwidow
I guess we're not inviting any Minotaurs to spring training. They would've announced something by now.
2008-01-23 12:52:14
85.   Eric Enders
84 The announcement of NRIs from the system hasn't happened yet, but I find it difficult to believe that the mythical creature won't get into a game or two. Actually, I'm operating under the assumption that all the players at the mini-camp last week will get a spring training invite.
2008-01-23 12:53:40
86.   ibleedbloo
Just finished listening to Easler interview on XMs, The Show. On my phone so cant give to much detail without my thumbs falling off, but i was impressed and am now much more excited about the move. sounds like he will be preaching going the other way and not being to scared to take a walk. He has worked with Kent when they were in toranto. He speaks highly of Hu and VERY highly of D Young. his personality seems like it will contrast Torres very nicely.
2008-01-23 12:53:58
87.   Jon Weisman
80 - The first names of all the vampires in my Buffy spec script were the last names of baseball legends. The lead vampire was a seductive girl named Rose.
2008-01-23 12:56:34
88.   Eric Enders
This week's sign that the apocalypse is upon us: The first thing you hear when you visit Dodgers.com right now is Juan Marichal's voice.
2008-01-23 13:04:26
89.   Jon Weisman
NPUT
2008-01-23 13:05:37
90.   El Lay Dave
87 Not exactly a legend, but was one of them named Montefusco?
2008-01-24 16:25:34
91.   Murray
87 You should have used the names of major league umpires.

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