>> "I fully intend at some time to talk to the Dodgers about Manny," Boras said. "They have interest in him and he had a beneficial time there. I hope the Dodgers are involved until the end. We are not trying to exclude them. I'll give Ned a ring or he'll call me to sit and meet. There's not any line in the sand for me. Whoever calls first." <<

## "He pays for himself," Boras said.

Indeed, even the Wall Street Journal chimed in on Thursday with an article that estimated Ramirez's value at $27 million a year based on a formula that calculates how many wins a free-agent player is worth. ##

http://tinyurl.com/5qqh63

The Dodgers? "I don't think they have the money to go that deep," said an executive of one club who knows owner Frank McCourt well. Our follow-up question: That deep in years or in dollars? "Both," the exec said.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=stark_jayson

Perhaps they would be interested in a nice Pierre?

They could do something like:

LF - Damon/Nady
RF - Swisher
CF - Melky
1B - Teixeira
DH - Matsui

and let Abreu walk.

or if they don't get Tex, bring Abreu back and go:

LF - Damon/Nady
RF - Abreu
CF - Melky
1B - Swisher
DH - Matsui

or they could try to trade Matsui and go with Tex and Abreu in some combination.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3699827&type=story

>>WHAT THEY NEED: Manny or an impact outfield bat, Sabathia or a top-of-the-rotation starter to replace Lowe, Casey Blake or a new third baseman, Rafael Furcal or a new leadoff man and a shortstop or second baseman or both. Is that all?

FREE AGENT WHO COULD TOP THEIR LIST: Manny or CC, but not both.

HOW THEY'LL SHOP: Should be a fun winter. The Dodgers have shed 12 free agents and nearly $60 million in payroll. So they have dollars to spend, but big holes to fill. They'll chase Manny, but they won't let Scott Boras spin them through his Cuisinart indefinitely. And if they give up on Manny, they'll be a major player in the Sabathia lottery. This is a team with so many rings in its circus, it's impossible to list them all. So suffice it to say we'll be talking Dodgers all winter.<<

>> The Los Angeles Dodgers, frequently reported among the teams most interested in Peavy, were never seriously engaged. <<

http://tinyurl.com/6j53sm

Nunez was the guy we traded for Marlon Anderson.

The Padres, according to CBSSports, were to receive Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar (2nd year MLB), Class A outfielder Gorkys Hernandez (2009 Braves No. 4 prospect per Kevin Goldstein), either right-hander Charlie Morton or left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes (unranked, 5th starter ceiling per Kevin Goldstein in latest rankings) and either reliever Blaine Boyer or one of two minor-league left-handers, one of whom was believed to be Jeff Locke.

I'd love Peavy, but I'm scared of the cost.

The Dodgers would likely have to give up a Kershaw/Billingsley/Kemp type, and that's a lot to give up.

Would it make sense to sign him to a 2yr deal of Manny falls thru?

Kemp/Hu/Stults/Wade?

If Braves acquire Peavy, they'll turn their sights on Furcal. Rafael is drawing a ton of interest, seems like it will be hard for the Dodgers to sign him...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/11/13/silver.sluggers.ap/index.html?eref=si_mlb

We do not have the minor league talent to get big pieces without adding young players already on the team.

McCann
Martin
Soto
Doumit

It'd be like Mitch Jones coming up to the Dodgers and knocking 37 HRs.

Also, Silver Slugger was the weakest of all the Marvel characters.

His minor league line is .270/.349/.501.

Now, perhaps he was never a highly touted prospect and probably he will never get the big pay day since his free agent period won't be for 5 years but I think it was more of him getting a chance when a lot of guys got hurt.

A year like Ludwick's has to give the Dallas McPherson type's some hope that its never too late to break through.

I feel deceived

Chris Coste, Edgar Gonzalez, Aaron Gueil, Joe Inglett

Drop that to 100 and you get Miguel Ojeda, Eddie Garabito and Bucky Jacobson.

If you lower the age to 27 you get some better names like Dave Roberts, and Mike Aviles

So really, the only guys who were suddenly given a chance in the last 10 years and was actually something better than a reserve was Aviles since Roberts had no business finding more work after his rookie year.

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/wUAv

Really the only guys on the list who hadn't done much prior to their age 29 year were Ludwick, Peña, and Easler.

(That's for Daniel.)

The best part is that there could be a 3 way tie for 2nd place. What will happen then? Ha Ha

Similar situation last year in my flag football game, up 1 (or so we thought) we give up a 4th and 19 TD with 1 second left. We stop their 2 pt conversion so down 5 I complete a hail mary on the last play of the game. Turns out we were down 6 so that TD only tied the game, the next week they made us come back on our bye week (30 minute drive) to try our XP which we converted. Long story short a 1 hour drive and 15 minutes of getting loose for 1 play.

It was scheduled this way. Now that I look again, we are guaranteed to be in 2nd place, but we could be tied with 1 or 2 teams. One of the teams we beat twice this year, so if that is how they do the head-to-head decision, we win there. The other team both games were split and each was won by 1 run.

So, if we are tied with them, you gotta wonder if it will come down to a coin toss.

So far 57 is worse, but if we do show up, and lose by a coin toss, I think we will win in terms of lame stories.

But 75 mins of driving for one brief play sure takes the cake.

This article says the Jays and Rays are interested:

http://tinyurl.com/6htnjl

Worst signing ever!!

That was the most deflating end to a baseball season I've ever seen (of ones in which the Dodgers were not involved).

Why in the heck are they letting culinary students compete with seasoned executive/sous-chefs. Talk about your sacrificial lambs!

Primal Scream

Manny Ramirez, Rafael Furcal will re-sign with Dodgers

>> At least according to betonline.com, they will. <<

http://tinyurl.com/6cmyfr

68 Man... I'm not one to say "told you so" but color me unsurprised, at least. He's sort of become like the Milton Bradley of football, except no longer with any production. Ah well. Keary Colbert is available! ;-)

And there goes the 2nd and last Culinary student. And talk about your swanky apartment, those are totally better digs than the guys and gals at Project Runway get.

But, actually, I love the Food Network.

Seeing as I'm usually the one getting his manhood called into question, it was shocking.

I may just accidentally bring her up the next time I'm reminded of Alton Brown's fabulousness.

Well, that isn't as bad as thinking that Paula Deen with Sandra Lee. (Semi-Homemade? Yikes, talk about reaching the lowest common denominator!)

;-)

I enjoyed Top Chef but I refused to watch Project Runway. That really did threaten my sense of masculinity. I had to leave the room when my g/f was briefly into that.

[name redacted] is filleted. Culinary students all over the country just crumbled their applications. It's not going to happen, ever. Nor will a career caterer, a middle-aged career changer, a sommelier, a food stylist, or a nutritionist ever win Top Chef.

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/blogs/index.php?blog=richard_blais_1&article=2008/11/the_other_side_of_the_fence#breadcrumbs

I wonder how chefs relate to average citizens in terms of tattoo coverage. They have to be at least triple the norm!

Why should I listen to this person telling me this looks good and this doesn't?

Greatly appreciated! :)

(I'm watching it now too)

Richard was awesome. He has been the most creative chef yet on Top Chef.

Somehow in season 3, two actually made it through and one won. That guy was also the villain of that season, so I don't know what that really says.

Its certainly easier to 'get' Top Chef, in the end we all love to eat food. I couldn't give a crap about fashion design though.

First, losing doesn't discount your career. Second, the 14 or so others who will be told to PYKAG will be scarred with an incident that people will remember. There are so many contestants whose names people don't remember. Did you really want to be the girl who always made pasta? The guy who shaved that other guys head? Or the angry lesbian on "that cooking show?" You'll be alright.

I also do not believe some of the ages of the people on the show, unless cooking makes you look far older than you are.

Also, I'm hoping they return to form since season 7 was an abomination. I found the first six seasons to be fairly even in quality (which is excellence), but season seven was barely watchable with all the silly relationship and baby drama.

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2008/11/post-1377-relatively-short-goodbye.html

The show definitely changed from year to year, but I thought it stayed consistently funny through the first six seasons and then totally lost its spark in the seventh.

And the Peavy saga continues.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

More here:
http://www.independent.com/

http://tinyurl.com/6jw6b9

>> The Dodgers have now lost their top two starting pitchers over the past four years (Lowe and Brad Penny), four starting infielders (Rafael Furcal, Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra and Casey Blake), a pair of key relievers (Joe Beimel and Chan Ho Park) and the eighth-winningest pitcher of all-time (Greg Maddux), along with Ramirez, Mark Sweeney, Gary Bennett, Pablo Ozuna and Jason Johnson.

With their departures, $63.5 million has been freed up from a payroll of $120 million in 2008. <<

http://tinyurl.com/6s2xey

>> For bidding purposes, the Angels' interest in Ramirez, voiced this week by owner Arte Moreno, adds intrigue to a rivalry between ownerships of the Southern California clubs dating to winter 2003, when a Dodgers front office, paralyzed by the pending sale to Frank and Jamie McCourt, allowed the Angels to scoop up free-agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero. <<

http://tinyurl.com/6bs9ys

>> Betemit hasn't lived up to his billing since becoming a prospect in Atlanta's organization at 16, but Williams believes he could blossom thanks to his adjustment to prescription goggles. <<

http://tinyurl.com/6s94y3

ChiSox GM is up to something ... but what?

>> Dodgers center fielder Juan Pierre could be another option if the Dodgers pay a sizable percentage of the $28.5 million he is owed over the next three seasons. <<

http://tinyurl.com/6abfct

Caveat emptor. Sheets' natural habitat is the disabled list, and he was pitching hurt when he was pitching at all by year's end

With apologies to Luke Appling, Sheets should inherit the nickname "Old Aches and Pains."

http://cbs2.com/firewatch/Montecito.Brush.Fire.2.863967.html

And you can here the chopper pilot talking to people on the two-way, as he didn't know we were listening.

Anyway, nothing more nervewracking than watching your hometown burn while watching it all remotely.

This is LogikReader reporting from the scene of another nasty fire in Santa Barbara. Unfortunately, the fire has burned over a dozen homes to date.

The previous two fires, the Gap fire and Zaca fire, were both started and contained west of the 154, about the Goleta area, or some 10 miles from downtown SB.

This fire is known as the Tea fire, and it is wrecking havoc over in Montecito, a fair 6-12 miles north east of Downtown Santa Barbara.

As you drive South on the 101 from Goleta it appears the fire is much closer than it is. Nevertheless, I live in the Lower Riviera and helicopters are hovering back and forth over my neighborhood.

I was watching the Jets and Patriots game tonight when my power went out, about 7pm tonight. I looked out my window and saw most of SB was out of power with me. Later I smelled a lot of smoke and ash and realized I'd better relocate just to be safe. I took my important documents with what little light I had and went to Goleta.

As I left, there was a huge blaze seen over the corner of my shoulder. It was very scary! So I drove away, with no lamps or traffic lights to help me until I reached State St. I went to our local bowling alley, Zodos, and spent time with a friend.

I returned here at 11pm, and by that time power was restored to my home, and the fires have been, hopefully, contained. The blaze appears to be much smaller now than it was initially.

Thankfully, we here in SB are mostly safe from the fire. About 20,000 residents were left without power, or roughly 1/4 of our population. However, I believe many of us have power restored.

The worst damage, and threats, lie in Montecito, where already a school has burned and Westmont College was forced to evacuate.

I'm home, I'm safe, and I'll be ready if I need to evacuate. As of now I think I'll be ok. I'm not really sure whether to go to work tomorrow at UCSB. That's the latest.

My heart and thoughts go out to everyone in Montecito, especially those who lost homes tonight. Thank you ALL on DT for your concern and help!

Ironically, I've been writing a script about wildfire/firefighters and wasn't expecting to get a more firsthand look at the whole thing right in the midst of it.

Oh well. Took a break to watch 30 Rock which was a nice distraction.

That means power was restored well before 9pm. It's interesting to know.

Those guys actually do grow on trees. Middle relief is not necessarily consistent from year to year. Beimel himself was picked up on the scrap heap three years ago. I'm not saying Beimel hasn't been impressive (amazingly so, in fact), but he's not the kind of thing you spend real money on.

Yeah. He's no Danys Baez.

http://tinyurl.com/6lhp2c

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove08/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=3698363

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that "the Phillies remain optimistic that they will be able to re-sign" Jamie Moyer. Moyer has said previously that he'd like to remain in Philadelphia after going 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA last season as a 45-year-old.

Doug Brocail- no thanks.

On the bright side, Randy is still pretty good, and will be relatively affordable (assuming he's willing to accept from us the pay-cut he was supposedly willing to accept from AZ).

We used to have fires like that every twenty years or so. Now it's every year. I won't get into a rule 5 violation discussion about global warming but it does make you think. Meanwhile, here in SF we're going to break heat records today, for mid-November.

Time to think about sports, and work.

Feh. If he's gonna give anyone a hometown discount it'd be the Giants (or A's), but I don't see the Giants being able to come up with enough anyway.

Probably not. He's only 24, and he performed poorly in the playoffs.

You had me, then you lost me. :)

Well, even work seems more pleasant a prospect right now than fretting about fire.

That leads me to believe that The Big Unit won't be offered arbitration, since he would make at least $8m (80% of previous year). Johnson is a Type B free agent, so that means Arizona won't get a sandwich pick if the Dodgers (or another team) sign him. It doesn't directly affect the Dodgers either way (the signing club won't lose a pick), but I enjoy the fact that Arizona won't profit if we sign Johnson.

He just finished a 2y/$26 mil contract and was supposedly willing to accept as much as a 50% pay cut. By my math, that figures to $7.5 mil. Reports are Arizona offered him $2-3 mil and he filed for free agency.

I think Ned comes in quick and signs him to a one-year deal. Let's hope he fares better than LuGo.

For free agents offer arbitration, the team can offer the vet. minimum if they want. Of course, they wouldn't do this because they'd lose and piss off the player. Still, that would mean a salary near his $10 million he got in 2008, not $8 million. The system wouldn't really allow him to take a paycut like that via arbitration, he could submit a salary around $10 million and have a good chance of winning it.

D4P's hatred? That's just irrational!

Coming soon! Commemorative plates featuring Randy Johnson's 300th win. Each plate features a custom drawing of Johnson leaving the mound in the 6th inning of a 4-3 game against the Cincinnati Reds. Relive this cherished moment night after night with your entire family.

I'm still surprised the Rams gave up on him, since he is at least a decent backup.

Gotta love Ned.

Thanks again for offering us your best wishes and thoughts. That's very kind of you.

Fortunately my home appears to be safe for the moment. I got off rather easily. At 5 a.m. I received a reverse-911 call of an Evacuation Warning. That just means to prepare important items in case of an actual evacuation.

I had plenty of time to pack a few things for the weekend, my important papers, and some data tapes. As of now I'm back at work, still safe.

One of my friends was wondering why I was at work, but I wanted to take care of a few important things. The best thing is, midtown Santa Barbara and westward is not in the path of the Tea fire. Winds are low right now but expect to pick up about noon today. That gives firefighters a good window to try and knock down as much of the fire as possible.

That's the latest from here at work in UCSB. Wishing you all well from the Central Coast!

I'm all for Mark Grudzielanek rejoining the team. Paul Byrd wouldn't look terrible in Dodger blue.

199 My fingers and toes are crossed so hard they're purple.

Let's say I'm a player eligible for arbitration called Lerek Dowe. I come in expecting a fair hearing from the panel of arbiters. My team's arbitration expert, Mik Gn, comes in with her offer.

My agent says "$15 million."
Gn says "$350,000."

The arbiters have to pick one of the two figures. So they hear the evidence.

During the hearing, my agent gets pissed off and throws a glossy binder at Gn. Then the whole process breaks down.

Meanwhile, union boss Johnny Lively comes in and files a grievance. Everyone else in arbitration pulls out of the process and files for free agency.

Incidentally I am decidedly not on the Ben Sheets bandwagon. I have a feeling he's due for some big injuries coming up. Its definitely just a feeling because he pitched 198 innings last year.

but..!

That's also the first time he's pitched over 160 innings in 4 years. It's hard to tell whether Sheets will hold up.

Yeah, I always liked Mark. That .325 season was a lot of fun to watch.

We acted like a big market team when we signed Schmidt, Pierre, and Jones.

http://tinyurl.com/5hwobq

"Pierre is not a bad player like many make him out to be. He may be overpaid but he's a good player."

Well, I'll be damned. From Article XX.B(3) of the MLB collective bargaining agreement (regarding free agents):
-------------------
"If the Player accepts the offer to arbitrate, he shall be a signed player for the next season and the parties will conduct a salary arbitration proceeding under Article VI; provided, however, that the rules concerning maximum salary reduction set forth in Article VI shall be inapplicable and the parties shall be required to exchange figures on the last day established for the exchange of salary arbitration figures under Article VI"
-------------------------

Nice call, Tripon.

Edison Volquez (Cincinatti): I was so close this year, I think with decent numbers I should be able to win Rookie of the Year in 2009. What do you think?

Keith Law: (1:19 PM ET ) Jamie Moyer's the favorite there.

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2008/11/14/661173/haha-o-you-silly-yankee-fa

Anyone care to calculate what that proposed roster would cost?

and A-Rod is not in the team.

Other than that...!