Sounds like someone's been arguing with Rob McMillin and Matt Welch.

I know it might sound that way, but this isn't a response to them.

I think that since the Dodgers have had such a long dry spell with the minors, people are naturally suspicious.

But it wasn't that long ago when the Dodgers had a long run of ROYs: Karros, Piazza, Mondesi, Nomo, and Hollandsworth.

Google Alerts sent this to me earlier today. It's a pretty good read for those who are pro-Tracy.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/09/26/sports/s145131D43.DTL

Phoenix Desert Dogs start playing next Tuesday (This years Dodgers AFL team). Hopefully the Dodgers prospects impress, and more importantly, don't get injured. Games will be on Gameday, which is almost more tempting than watching the playoffs =)

Vegas will have Gameday next year as well, or at least should. They hoped to get Gameday to AAA teams, but I haven't heard if it's official

4 My question - and this is sincere, not sarcastic - is this. If everything else were the same except Jim Tracy were not the manager of this team, how many games would the Dodgers have won this season?

3
We also had a milder run of guys who became successful for other teams, like Ted Lilly, Henry Rodriguez, John Wetteland, and Paul Konerko.

8 - would "guys who became successful for other teams" include Pedro "Tommy Said I Was Too Short" Martinez?

6 - One thing I know is that another manager might have pulled the plug on Izturis as the leadoff man much earlier. He showed far less reluctance to move Shawn Green around in the lineup, and it's arguable Tracy's moving Green around so much messed with Green psychologically and contributed to Green's departure. One will notice this argument rarely gets raised by local media these days.

4 Even for the anti-Tracy, that wasn't a bad article, quote wise anyways

"We had a great group of guys at the start and at the finish," Werth said. "There's definitely a difference in atmosphere from last year to this. I don't really think we have a bad clubhouse, I just think some things have happened over the course of the season — injuries, close losses, things like that."

I guess that's good news, as is...

Kent, who signed a two-year contract last winter, has always been known as a loner, but Werth defended him, saying the public perception concerning the All-Star second baseman "is not close," and that he loved having Kent as a teammate.

Has Werth become the new PR guy?

And to take Tracy out of context

"I think that's something you talk about when the season's over," he said. "That's the way I've done it for four years. I'm not changing."

Putting the quote back into context, is this just Tracy's ambiguous style, or is there a hidden message? Maybe it's the optimism over analyzing the quote, but there seems to be some hostility in the quote

Don Adams died just before Jim Bowden could sign him to a three-year deal to play shortstop

9 - "it's arguable Tracy's moving Green around so much messed with Green psychologically and contributed to Green's departure. One will notice this argument rarely gets raised by local media these days."

It's not a good argument to raise.

Green's slump preceded Tracy moving him around. In fact, the world was almost as impatient for Tracy to move Green out of the cleanup spot as they were for Tracy to move Izturis out of the leadoff spot. More impatient about Green, if you consider that Izturis batted leadoff in 2004.

Tracy gave Green as much rope as any manager would dare give someone who was producing as poorly as Green in the cleanup spot.

Green's departure came for one reason - he was not playing like a $16 million player. It wasn't Tracy's fault.

It is true that Tracy gave Izturis more patience in his batting slot.

Green hit cleanup for twenty seven years.

Your Penultimate Random Dodger Game Callback

September 26, 1946

The Dodgers might have won the battle this day at Ebbets Field, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 8-2, but they also might have lost the war as star left fielder Pete Reiser broke his left leg. The win moved the Dodgers to within one half game of the first place Cardinals at 95-57.

Reiser's injury happened in the first inning. Second baseman Eddie Stanky led off with a walk. Third baseman Augie Galan flied out and Reiser forced Stanky at second. Reiser, who led the NL in 1946 in stolen bases, took a big lead and Philadelphia pitcher Charley Schanz threw back to first. Reiser slid back into first feet first and jammed his leg against the bag and snapped his left fibula.

Reiser was carried off the field and taken to the hospital. Dick Whitman ran for Reiser and took second on a passed ball by Philadelphia catcher Rollie Hemsley. Right fielder Dixie Walker singled home Whitman with the first run of the game.

The Dodgers scored four times in the fourth. First baseman Eddie Stevens led off with a double. Center fielder Carl Furillo tried to sacrifice, but beat the bunt out for a hit. Shortstop Pee Wee Reese beat out an infield single to short to score Stevens. Catcher Bruce Edwards laid down a bunt and he beat it out also. Pitcher Kirby Higbe popped out. Stanky then bounced a ball into right field to score Furillo. Oscar Judd came into relieve for Philadelphia and walked Galan to force in a run. Joe Medwick, a midseason pickup in his second tour of duty in Brooklyn, drove in the final run with a groundout.

In the sixth inning, Galan singled and Medwick followed with his second home run of the season. The Dodgers added their final run in the seventh on a squeeze bunt from Edwards to score Furillo.

Meanwhile, Higbe went the distance to pick up his 17th win of the season. He gave up seven hits and struck out six.

The Dodgers were off on September 27, but they moved into a tie for first when the Cardinals lost at home to the Cubs, 7-2. On September 28, both teams won with the Dodgers beating the Braves and the Cardinals beating the Cubs. But on the last day of the regular season, both teams lost. Mort Cooper of the Braves shut out the Dodgers 4-0 while the Cubs, behind Johnny Schmitz, beat the Cardinals 8-3.

So for the first time since its founding in 1876, the National League season ended in a tie and a best of three playoff was scheduled. The Dodgers won the coin flip and opted to start the playoff in St. Louis and play the last two games, if necessary, in Brooklyn.

Just over 26,000 came to Sportsman's Park to see the first playoff game. Cardinal lefty Howie Pollet, battling an injury to his side, went the distance as St. Louis won 4-2. Joe Garagiola drove in the insurance run for the Cardinals in the seventh. Ralph Branca took the loss.

After a day off, the teams returned to Brooklyn. Joe Hatten got the call to save the Dodgers season, but the Cardinals battered him and a succession of five relievers for eight runs, three of them in the ninth. Murray Dickson got the win and Harry Brecheen came in to relieve in the ninth and struck out two with the bases loaded to send the Cardinals to the World Series, where they would defeat the Boston Red Sox in seven games.

Reiser's loss was something the Dodgers were used to as other injuries had limited him to just 122 games in 1946. Stanky had the highest OBP on the team at .436. He walked 137 times although he hit no home runs. Reiser led the team with 11 homers. The team hit just 55 for the season. Walker led the team in batting at .319 and drove in 116 runs with just nine home runs. The Dodgers did score 701 runs, second most in the league.

The pitching staff was headed up by Higbe who was 17-8 with a 3.03 ERA. Hatten was 14-11 with 2.84 ERA. The staff ERA was 3.05, which was also second best in the NL.

In a sense though, the Dodgers lost the battle in 1946 to the Cardinals (who had won four of the last five NL pennants), but they were going to win the war. Jackie Robinson had a tremendous year playing in the minor leagues in Montreal. Branch Rickey was going to make some changes. And from 1947 through 1966, the Dodgers would win ten pennants and four World Series, while the Cardinals would win just once.

Thanks to the New York Times, Baseball-Reference, and Retrosheet.

12
Even if Green was "playing like a $16 million player," there's a good chance he would have been traded.

15 - I doubt it. They would have kept him and probably not signed Drew.

16
But the $6 million savings from Green was instrumental in signing Lowe, right? At least, that's what we were told.

can someone direct me to the article where welch bashes the dodger farm system on primer?

17 - not sure Lowe is relevant to this discussion of Green. If Green were a 1.000 OPS guy and expected to remain so for another year, DePo would not have traded him unless another team absolutely overwhelmed him with an offer. Lowe would have been a secondary consideration.

Green was traded because in DePo's mind, he was overvalued.

6 "My question - and this is sincere, not sarcastic - is this. If everything else were the same except Jim Tracy were not the manager of this team, how many games would the Dodgers have won this season?"

Probably a similar number in all honesty.

Another manager might have played Choi and Perez a little more, had less patience for Izturis in the leadoff spot, punted on Phillips earlier, and stuck with Robles less. But in my opinion those are all relatively minor differences. A game here or there.

How many wins did Tracy squeeze out of last year's team that another manager might not have?

I'm not pro or anti Jim Tracy at this point. I think after last year he deserves a shot with a healthy roster next year before we reach any conclusions. That being said I wouldn't be heart broken if he decided to go elsewhere.

I read your column a few weeks back about not calling for Tracy to get the axe unless you are prepared to name a replacement that would do better. If we stay on that train of thought who is there? I can't think of anyone this side of Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa who might have got a few more wins out of this club. And I think that even with those two it's still at sub-.500 team.

12 - I think we're actually making similar points here. As manager, Tracy had to move Green down in the lineup, but the moves (both up and down) definitely seemed to mess with Green's head and make the situation worse--and yet the local media peanut gallery seems to have forgotten this.

On the other hand, Tracy should have dropped Izturis a lot earlier this. Cesar Izturis 2005 was clearly a #7/#8 hitter, not a leadoff guy.

19 Right. And if Green were still here, Drew wouldn't be, and Drew's money could have gone to Lowe. And Green would have had his hand broken on an HBP, and the media would screaming that he should have been traded to save money.

With Green and Lowe, no Drew: $24 million.

With Drew and Lowe, plus $10 million to trade Green: $29 million.

Green's EQAs since 2000

2000 - .289
2001 - .323
2002 - .321
2003 - .285
2004 - .280
2005 - .286

Green has not been significantly better this year than he was last year - more significantly, he has remained far from his 2001-2002 level.

Green is better than the healthy Dodger outfielders but worse than the injured Dodger outfielders (both Drew and Bradley).

First base? Choi is at .260, Saenz is at .285. Green is a little better than the combo. Not much, though.

19
I bring up Lowe because in most of the discussions I've had about the Green trade, the Lowe signing has been treated as a byproduct of the Green trade, and folks have argued that the Green trade made the Lowe signing possible. They've essentially argued that, in exchange for Green, the Dodgers got not only the 4 minor leaguers from AZ, but were also thus able to sign Lowe.

I never really bought that argument because I didn't see why the Dodgers couldn't have signed Lowed anyway, even without the $6 million savings from the Green trade.

20 - Pythagoras might have something to say about this, but if you look at the Pythagorean standings right now, they'd tell you Ozzie Guillen and Bob Melvin were the best managers in baseball and Willie Randolph is the worst (Tracy is, as might be expected, squarely in the middle with a -1 rating). I have a hard time buying what Pythagoras is selling right now.

I never really bought that argument because I didn't see why the Dodgers couldn't have signed Lowed anyway, even without the $6 million savings from the Green trade.

They could have, but then probably couldn't have signed Drew.

21 I never got that impression. From what I've read about Green's shoulder surgery (especially Will Carroll's article), I think what was going on with his labrum was more important than what was going on in his head.

21 This sort of stuff always baffles me. Why would moving around in the lineup matter? It might hurt a player's pride a bit to know that the idea is to get him fewer ABs, but why don't we believe that every hitter tries to do well every time up? I can see that maybe a free-swinger would be frustrated batting behind a base-stealing threat, where he's asked to take pitches or some such. But if we know that batting order doesn't matter to team success (the same 8 players will score roughly the same number of runs no matter what order they're in), then why should place in said order affect a player's success?

I see, e.g., that Choi was much better batting 2nd, but to me that's random variation that would not survive bigger sample sizes.

I think one of the drawbacks of baseball's laconic pace is that we have too much time to think about climbing inside players' heads, and assessing motivation, AND trying to explain everything causally. One of the great advances of sabermetrics is that we have much better causal theories than before. But another, perhaps even greater, advance is to show just how much luck (random variation) there is in baseball, and that while the game has become more and more explainable (and thus predictable) in the long run, it's still utterly unpredictable game to game and pitch to pitch.

Hmm ... wondering about my communication skills.

21 - "the moves (both up and down) definitely seemed to mess with Green's head and make the situation worse--and yet the local media peanut gallery seems to have forgotten this. "

No, I completely disagree with this. Green only seemed to improve once he dropped down below Beltre. If you check his splits from 2004, the numbers back it up.

Batting fourth: .790 OPS
Batting fifth: .863 OPS
Batting sixth: .826 OPS

20 - "I read your column a few weeks back about not calling for Tracy to get the axe unless you are prepared to name a replacement that would do better. "

That's not what I said. What I said was that if you nominate a Tracy replacement, have a good reason for it. Don't pick a name just because it sounds nice.

If you figure in Dreifort's full salary, since no one knows yet what insurance discount came about, Drew, Green, and Lowe on the team would have put the Dodgers above the $100 million threshold.

25 - That may be the case. If so, it would only support the notion that Green was traded because DePo found him overvalued. If Green were worth keeping, DePo would have kept him.

As it was, if Drew and Bradley had not been hurt (predictably or not), DePo would have been completely vindicated in trading Green. As it is, I think DePo might still be vindicated.

Dreifort. If there had been a Dreifort bobble-head it would have blown it's neck out.

32
I agree that Depo thought Green was overvalued, but I still think he might have been traded even if that wasn't the case. I'm not convinced Depo was comfortable with a $16 million salary, even had the player been playing well enough to earn it (which Green clearly wasn't). I don't think Depo wants to build a team around one or two very highly paid players; I think he'd rather spread the talent (and money) around more evenly.

29 should be primary text, and a test given on it at the end of the year.

34 - Certainly possible, but I see no evidence that DePo would not pay $16 million to a real superstar, especially for just one season, as it would have been with Green.

I think it's just as easy to assume that DePo wants the good $316,000 players so that he can spend big money on a superstar if he wants to. That way, even with a couple of megamillionaires on the team, the team wouldn't be completely dependent on them.

34 Since the $16 million was only for one more year, it probably wouldn't have bothered DePodesta as much if Green had been putting up Manny Ramirez numbers.

He probably wouldn't have resigned him at that price, though. Imagine what we could have gotten in trade for Green if he had been any good.

36,37
Well, it should be interesting to see what happens this offseason. I put the probability of maintaining payroll at $100 million (and signing "megamillionaires") at less than 0.5, but ya never know. I'm looking forward to seeing what Depo has in store, particularly since I'm not attached to any of the players on the current squad (with the exception of HSC).

Final from Boston

Blue Jays-Red Sox

POSTPONED

greens salary was only for one more year. it wasnt as if it was a long term albatross on the team.

Re: the search for a new field manager, did anyone else see this in the Philadelphia Inquirer this weekend?

>>
The Indians might have the AL manager of the year in 37-year-old Eric Wedge, who finished his playing career a few years ago as a backup catcher for the Phillies' triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre club. The Indians have another rising young managerial star in their system in Torey Lovullo. He, too, spent time in the Phillies system, playing at Scranton in 1999 and finishing the season in the majors. Lovullo managed Akron to the Eastern League title last week and could move up to triple-A Buffalo next year...
<<

Just another name to throw out there. Now quick! Somebody ask Timmerman who has the longest hitting streak of the century going into tonight. Gotta make sure he is now a safe distance away from Rex Hudler's stash...

OT: Arrested Development in less than 10 minutes.

Well, it should be interesting to see what happens this offseason. I put the probability of maintaining payroll at $100 million (and signing "megamillionaires") at less than 0.5, but ya never know

well of course, considering there are not any superstar players available in FA this offseason

2-0 White Sox over Detroit in the 3rd.

It's raining in New York and Philly as well.

43
That has a lot to do with it, although (in theory) he could trade for megamillionaires as well.

30 - My communication skills probably need the work, especially since you're the one who gets paid to communicate! I should have said that I was only referring the psychological situation with Green. From a baseball standpoint, moving him was unarguably the right thing to do, but it did seem to sour Green and may have increased his willingness to leave the Dodgers. Which lends grist, deserved or not, to the "character" and "class" arguments, whose merit I dispute. Amazing how a guy can play with a bum shoulder for half a year, supposedly in the interests in the team, and yet what really hurts the man most is getting dropped in the batting order.

Longest hitting streak of the 21st Century would be Luis Castillo, 35 games in 2002.

38 Personally, I'm hoping that payroll doesn't get to $100 million next season. Pretty much all of the available free agents are lousy, and I'd hate to sign mediocrity for the sake of appealing to narrow-minded fans and analysts who think that a team that isn't wasting money is a team that isn't trying to win.

If the Dodgers get healthy next season (Drew), play better players (Choi, no Phillips) and see continued growth from youngsters like Navarro and Aybar, I think they'll be contenders.

It'd be nice to pick up more starting pitching, but I don't want Burnett, Washburn, Millwood, or Weaver, and they're the best on the market. Maybe some creative trading would work out, but I'd stay away from most of the free-agent market this offseason.

48 - I think its likely that the payroll goes down next year, barring some major trade (Bobby Abreu?, Adam Dunn?).

I also don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, for the reasons you stated.

47 -Ouch! Then where did I see that Rollins has the longest since Vlad Guerrero in 1999?

And does anyone know why McKeon is benching Miguel Cabrera? Sounds like the Marlins are counting themselves out of it already.

Certainly I should have added Gagne to players who need to be healthy next season, and I'd add Broxton and Kuo to the list of developing young players.

I'd sign Millwood depending on the price.

I should have said it's raining in Baltimore, where New York is playing. It could be raining in New York though. But not as many people would care since both the Yankees and Mets are on the road.

Guerrero had a 31-game streak in 1999.

Maybe people just don't like Luis Castillo.

52 He's had such a good year ERA-wise, I'm afraid he'll be getting Lowe money. I'd take him on this year's price no question.

48 How can you lump Burnett and Millwood with Washburn and Weaver? Both would be a nice upgrade on Weaver. It's not my money.

Brandon Inge has hit a 2-run homer to tie it up in Detroit against the Pale Hose 2-2.

Burnett has given up 35 homers... in his last 556 innings.

I personally wouldn't want to spend $16 on Shawn Green 2005, just to have the warm fuzzies of paying him for the length of his contract.

48 - That's an interesting question. If we look at Jon's recent projection of needed HR totals for various lineup slots, could a healthy Dodger team as currently constituted be reasonably expected to hit those? My gut says no, but my gut lacks lateral thinking skills. Working on a strictly back of the envelope basis:

1 - 5 HR Perez
2 - 15 HR Choi (I know, I know)
3 - 30 HR Drew (fingers & toes crossed)
4 - 30 HR Bradley
5 - 25 HR Kent
6 - 20 HR Cruz (?)/Werth
7 - 15 HR Navarro/Phillips (? gack)
8 - 5 HR Robles
PH - 5 HR Ledee (?), Repko, etc.

Out of those, #3-4-5 seems like the biggest gambles, which is not reassuring. Then again, it seems reasonable to expect them to come close, and also to get more than 5 HR from the #1 and #8 slots.

56 I don't want to go anywhere near Burnett's injury history, and Millwood has been pretty inconsistent throughout his career.

Players on the Dodgers who have hit more home runs this year than Brandon Inge:
Jeff Kent
Jose Cruz
Hee-Seop Choi
J.D. Drew
Olmedo Saenz

Padres who have hit more home runs than Brandon Inge:
Ryan Klesko
Joe Randa
Brian Giles
Khalil Greene

Caught part of what I think is called "The Big Show" on 710 with Mason and Ireland, and heard a humorous exchange.

One of them says something like "I just want to say to all the Oakland fans, Moneyball fails. In fact it fails AGAIN, just like it's failed every season.", at which point the other guy says, "Well, umm, you can't say that its Moneyball that's failing, they do what they do with half the payroll of the Angels."

59 Next year could be a lot better, or as bad as this year, but the only way the Dodgers can revamp the team immediately is if they trade the farm. I'd rather wait until the farm is ready to play for LA.

Burnett carries the stench of Dreifort-ism.

62
I'm betting that the logical person in that conversation was Mason and the illogical one was Ireland.

Did you know?

Dodger 3b's this year out OPS'd the Cardinals .723 to .713.

The White Sox are back ahead 3-2.

I noticed yesterday that the White Sox are last in the majors in LOB. I think the total was 972, which is a very small number and may break the franchise low for a full season which was a little over 1000.

I've also noticed that the White Sox are 26th in the majors in OBP and 5th in homers.

The record low in the majors for a full season is by the 1957 A's who were last in the AL in OBP and first in home runs.

62 - Just like it failed for the Red Sox last year!

59 - at this point you have to consider aybar the opening day starter or atleast somebody who really pushes antonio perez during spring training.

69 - Thanks! Nothing against Robles, but Aybar/Perez sounds much better to me.

Note to self: buy a bigger enevelope...

The Dodgers have left 1096 runners on base this year, which is around 7.7/game.

prospect news:

dodgers had 2 prospects in the top 20 list of the SAL.

#1- elbert
#7- dewitt

shame that blake johnson and denker did not make it. travesty i tell you! travesty.

71 - But how do they compare on the Olneys?

to add.

i am surprised that elbert is the number 1 overall prospect in the sally league. i guess we have to keep a rotation spot open for him in 2009 or so.

The Olneys were retired last year by ESPN.com and Elias. They've gone the way of the GWRBI.

I believe the only Olney champ ever officially crowned was Adam Everett.

Who actually does stuff like hit home runs now.

6
About 60 comments too late, but...
I think Tracy "single-handedly" cost this team about 10 games. That still leaves the club with a poor record, but one that is at least excusable [perhaps playoff bound too, incidentally] considering the injuries.

The point that bears consideration is that Tracy killed morale to such a degree that we're left wondering how many games he really cost the team. The lost rubber match against the Cards in L.A., for example, no doubt had a depressing effect on the team. A win would have had them 3 back of the Pads on Aug 1st with the satisfaction of having won a series against a formidable foe who has owned them of late. Instead they never saw better than 4 back.

After games like this players must know the script is already written. I don't mean to digress with the obvious here [Tracy is bad blah blah blah], I'm just stating/probing how much of an intangible, non-empirical impact managerial ineptitude can have.

Going back aways to 3, that run of ROY's in the 90s led to bad things like arrogance and complacency on the part of Dodger management. There was much less than meets the eye to it. Piazza was a star, and Mondesi could have been, although I'm sure his "makeup" problems were apparent to the organization before it was apparent to the rest of us. Nomo was a ROY in name only; he had already established himself in Japan. Eric Karros is the single most overrated player in Dodger history. By Hollandsworth, you couldn't even say "Dodger Rookie of the Year" with a straight face.

But Fred Claire bragged about this accomplishment til the cows came home, hoping no one would notice the team had stopped winning, needed to import expensive problems like Strawberry, and was generally fraying and losing it.

INGE INGE INGE INGE

Brandon goes deep again and it's 3-3 in Detroit.

76 Morale can't be used against Tracy. He apparently is well-liked by the players.

I think suggesting he's cost us 10 games--i.e. the division championship--is a huge huge stretch. Also, it's not a fair analysis to put all the focus on the debit side of the ledger. Maybe JT has cost us 5 games thru making obviously (not in retrospect) bad decisions. But that's balanced out by, say 2 or 3 games where his managing contributed to a win.

The whole problem is building the "morale" of players like Jason Repko, who can't actually play.

I'm a little late here, but man is it a relief to read material like this after being on the road for the last few hours listening to 570 and 710. Thanks.

The newly chemistry-less (or, if you prefer, playoff-less, since they appear to be the same thing) Florida Marlins can not stop Cristian Guzman, they can only hope to contain him.

79 - I always got the impression that the players liked Tracy too, based on post-game comments. Though, a friend of mine who talked to a Dodger half-way through the season definitely didn't get that impression. While that's just one Dodger, that fact makes it harder to say that the players generally like Jim Tracy.

I don't have a manager in mind, but I'd rather see a new manager for the Dodgers next year; someone who agrees with DePo's philosophies and will strategize accordingly. Call it Smallball, call it Moneyball, call it whatever you like, just get the GM and the manager on the same page!!!

Then again, all the injuries pretty much guarantee a DePo/Tracy tandem in 2006. Yuck.

82 - I'm sure Lo Duca is turning the teams collective frown upside-down as we speak...

66 Dodger 3b's this year out OPS'd the Cardinals .723 to .713.

And credit for that goes to...Hee Seop Choi, for ending Rolen's season early.

86 - Didn't the Great Wall of Korea do something similar to Mark Prior a couple of years ago?

Maybe you SHOULD trade him to Tampa Bay; if Delmon Young is going to be their Darryl Strawberry, maybe Hee can be Kevin Mitchell.

85 -- Ken Rosenthal did not indicate so. But since August 16th, if I've counted right, LoDuca is 15 for 87, so it is just more polite to talk about "chemistry"

62 I have a friend who's an A's fan, and he was spouting the same "wisdom" about Moneyball not working, especially in the playoffs. I pointed out that having one of the lowest payrolls in the game is the failed approach, not Moneyball. As Boston proved so well.

Is Robles our #3 hitter of the future??? Something about that depresses me....

77. I always the thought the Dodger Farm system was productive in the early 90's. Apart from the ROY's (Piazza, Karros, Nomo, Mondesi, Hollandsworth), Jose Offerman Pedro Martinez along with Pedro Astacio, Ismael Valdez. Also, useable players such as Jose Vizcaino and Tom Goodwin came up at the time. Given that not every one is going to be a Piazza-Pedro level star, I would think that the farm system from 1990-1994 produced more than its share of baseball talent.

my checklist for success regarding tonight's game:

1. Edwin goes at least 5 innings and no more than 3 earned runs
2. Aybar starts at 3B and is on base at least once
3. Navarro has a solid game behind the plate and collects at least one hit
4. Kuo pitches a scoreless inning (none of this LOOGY stuff for Kuo) and his elbow is still attached upon returning to the dugout
5. Choi with an extra base hit

Four out of Five and I'll consider it a good night. Notice there is no mention of the score. I don't care about the W/L at this point.

79
Jim Tracy is definitely well-liked by most of his players (as has been documented ad nauseam), but I doubt his moves have garnered a lot of trust. I'd bet a lot of players think his routine is pretty dicey at this point:
"The bunting has failed us over and over again, but I like that skip is sending Repko out to bunt right now..."
?

Conventional wisdom states that managers cost there squad 4-6 games a year. I say 10 becasue I have witnessed at least seven and have read accounts of other games I missed. I don't think JT belongs in the median of 4-6. No way. And believe me, I've taken into account the games he's won us, or the credit side-- like yesterday, you could argue that by pinch-hitting Phillips he won the game. I've given him his due and still come up with 10.

You're right though, the issue of morale is a very shaky topic, like "chemistry," which I generally prefer to steer clear from. I just think there's something to be said about shaping the mental make-up of a team. In my opinion JT did this to an above average, detrimental degree this year.

92. I think that pretty much sums up what i look for when watching the dodgers recently, who gets the win and the loss is pretty irrelevent to me. Its a pretty liberating feeling and can make watching the game more fun, when the team is going to loose anyway

I'd also like to add that I'm not thrilled about this offseason's free agents. Millwood is up-and-down for his career, Burnett is the second coming of Dreifort due to his absurdly high pitch counts, Washburn is highly overrated, and that leaves Weaver.

I'd roll the dice on imports like Paul Byrd (for bottom of the rotation) and Matt Lawton (in the leadoff role for his OBP). If we shoot the moon for a pitcher, it better be a Matt Morris-caliber starter.

only thing tonight is for edwin to get his fb velocity up.

if its still sitting at 90-91 im going to be worried/dissapointed.

Robles is the #3 hitter tonight

Aybar
Choi
Robles
Kent
Cruz
Navarro
Werth
Repko
Jackson

Cristian Guzman doubles in two more. Florida held to only two "chemistrys" by Hector Carrasco.

-96 If he's working at 90-91 again, I'd guess he lasts no more than 3 or 4 innings. He'll get shelled.

76 I too think that a claim that JT cost the team 10 wins is ludicrous. Ludicrous, because how could we ever know? One of the benefits of blaming the manager for making what seems to be the wrong move is that we can assume that the right move, had it been made, would have worked out. But really, even the better player is still more likely to fail than to succeed. Really, Tracy's head-scratchers merely add insult to injury most of the time. The team is not only losing, but looking dumb along the way. Occasionally, they also cost the team the game. But then again, his bonehead subbing of Phillips for Choi yesterday, while dumb a priori, worked out, and, in better times, would be evidence that he has a magic touch with substitutions.

We can use RC/27 or VORP or some such to estimate how many more runs the team would have scored had Choi received 200 more ABs, Phillips 200 fewer, etc., and Pythagoras (channelled by Bill James) would tell us that how many more wins the team would have had (other things equal) but those are merely estimates. Luck might still have burned us. We might not have won many more close games, and might just have made some of the blowout losses into close losses. Look at the ChiSox and Twins. For the last few years, the Twins have been very lucky (outstripping their Pythaogrean W-L record) and the ChiSox very unlucky. This year, it's reversed (or was last time I checked).

And that's leaving aside the question of how many of JT's bonehead moves would have been made by any other manager as well. So the statement about the Tracy Factor being 10 games is ludicrous because it's unknowable. That doesn't mean it's wrong, however.

Sanchez
J Wilson
Bay
Macowiak
Doumit
Eldred
McLouth
Furmaniak
Fogg

for the Bucs.

97
With Mr. Clutch poised to pinch hit in case anyone gets on base in front of Choi.

glad to see Aybar, Choi and Navarro are in the lineup. Could have been a quick blow to my checklist.

On Steiner (from the other thread):

I guess I'm the only one who can't stand Steiner. It sounds like he spits when he talks and when he's paired up with Rick Monday, they like to talk about random things that have nothing to do with game ("Yea, that steak dinner we had last night was fabulous") He has no idea where the ball is when it comes off the bat:
"And there's a flyball to right field!...and it's...caught (in medium right field)
Transcript from Steiner calling Navarro's walkoff HR:
...And here's the 3-2...flyball right center field and deep...it's way back there...and it issssss...GONE! A Home Run! Dioner Navarro with his first major league home run, it is a walkoff HR, and the Dodgers win it 7-6, the Dodgers are storming out of the 3rd base dugout, they'll waive(?) him at home plate, and now they're gonna BEAT him to death!

Steiner over described the play, rarely pausing, and giving too much information. He gets far too excited and is unable to control his emotions. It's a shame that Ross Porter was fired AND that he was replaced with an inferior announcer. One of my favorite announcers is Dan Shulman (who works for ESPN).

Tigers with a runner on 2nd and 1 out with 1 out in the 8th.

Trammell had Craig Monroe, one of his best hitters, sacrifice Pudge Rodriguez from first to second. Rodriguez hurt himself though and is out for a pinch runner in the person of the famous Nook Logan.

Conventional wisdom states that managers cost there squad 4-6 games a year.

Huh? The CW is that the average managerial effect is negative? Since one team wins and the other loses each game, doesn't the average effect have to be zero? Or did you mean to say that managerial decisions affect the outcome of 4-6 games per year?

Look, I want JT gone too. I think he's shown this year that he's not the right guy for a DePo-constructed team. But while I also have been sure that at least 10 losses might have gone the other way with better decisions, I have no idea how many wins would have become losses with different decisions. It's a huge leap of logic to argue that most wins were despite the manager. Again, the counterfactual (what would have happened if...) is unknowable. So, with present technology, we can't quantify the W-L effect of the manager, and have to rely on subjective impressions instead.

Mine is that Tracy should be fired if he won't get religion. But I'm not going to pretend to have the numbers to back that up.

Steve Finley is starting in center field tonight for the Angels.

"Fins" is due for a hot streak, I've been told.

But wasn't it just the game he homered and doubled against Tampa Bay?

100 106

Better be careful there GoBears. You're being dangerously even-handed in this department.

You obviously didn't go to Jim Tracy Effigy Night.

104
You are not alone. I can't stand Steiner either. Among other things, he makes EVERY ball that is hit in the air sound like a HR. And yes, he gets WAY too excited. He's too much of a homer for my taste. He also asks really bad questions in the player interviews, and butchers a lot of name pronunciations.

i should be studying for my accounting midterm that is tomorrow but watching jackson pitch takes priority over that.

please edwin, dont shelled.

I could learn to like Steiner. Yes, he's terrible at judging long fly balls - he needs to do what Vin admits he does, which is to look at the OFer, and trust that the OFer's reaction is accurate. And sometimes it seems as though Steiner wishes he were still doing Yankee games. But I think he could grow into this job. I like his style and approach, even if he has some bad habits. I like the even-handedness and the casual, conversational style. I certainly like Monday better as the analyst than as the PBP guy. But I wonder how Steiner could do alone, without the tempation to chat with anyone.

110
Purcey - For the love of Choi, go study. There'll be plenty of opportunities to watch Jackonville, er, Jackson, pitch in the future. But you only get one chance to take this midterm.

If he can retire the leadoff batter, Edwin Jackson's ERA will drop 0.16.

If he gives up a homer to the leadoff batter, his ERA will go up 0.49.

-112
and on the other shoulder: "nate, don't listen to him. Jackson might pitch a shutout and you could miss it".

just kidding. do what we all did in school. study while watching the game. and if nothing else, just remember this:

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

You can put it on the board!

NO!

Granderson homers and the Tigers win 4-3 over the White Sox.

114
Meanwhile, back on the OTHER shoulder, "Yeah, but even if he pitches a shutout, it's against the Pirates. That barely counts."

The best thing to do is study a little before the game, then watch the game and if Jackson has a short outing, turn it off and go back to studying.

114-
Choi/Aybar/Navarro= Tracy + McCourt's Beverly Hills mansion?

108 i would fly back to LA to go to Jim Tracy Effigy Night. talk about a party! :)

Frank McCourt doesn't live in Beverly Hills according to the real estate records I've seen. He lives in Los Angeles.

But his house(s) cost him a lot.

119- you're right, he lives in Holmby Hills, near the Playboy mansion.

Huh - right near my office. He and I should carpool to games.

54 Hey Bob, if they get 4 more innings in at CBP, Rollins has now tied Guerrero at 31 games.

116 I missed Game 6 of the 2003 World Series to go see Rocky Horror Picture Show with a bunch of weirdos from high school. Not the movie even, some local theater company. Needless to say I was pretty mad at Andy Pettitte when I got home.

But that doesn't beat my little sister, who left in the 3rd inning of the Phanatic's Birthday game in 2003. You guys might remember that one, a Sunday afternoon, Kevin Millwood started against the Giants...

I'm sure any game that starts this week is going to be played until its conclusion unless a Class 5 Hurricane hits and what are the odds of three of those in one year?

just saw a stat that Jason Kendell has thrown out only 15% of baserunners this year. Worst in the majors.

At least he hits for power. No?? 0 HRs in over 500 at bats.

So he must be an OBP machine. Hmmm. Not so much. .347 obp this year.

Why was he at the top of the lineup in Oakland this year?

106
I did in fact mean to say that the outcome of 4-6 games are "affected" by a manager as opposed to "lost" [and that bit of CW is just something I heard in passing on the radio]. So in reevaluating my nebulous assertion with that clarification in mind, there is admittedly no logic in arriving at 10. But there never really was any to begin with. Of course all of this is completely unknowable. No one has, or has even pretended to have conclusive numbers. It's merely subjective guessing with no base. So I'm still sticking with the ludicrous notion of 10. My eyes don't lie. :)

Every night is Jim Tracy Bobblehead Night.

Just another walk for Aybar...

2-0 Padres after 2 batters.

Watch Kent swing at the first pitch

And Choi...

Horrible job by Kent. At least hit it out of the infield

this accounting test shouldnt be too hard. i mean, its just the basics so far, journal entrys, trial balance, debit/credit, etc

but yea, assets= liabilities + stockholders equity is all you need to know. if you know what goes in each part, you can use logic to figure out the rest.

100 - If I read the latest Pythagorean standings correctly, the White Sox and D-Backs have the highest margin over their expected wins (Dodgers are -1). One could either believe Ozzie Guillen and Bob Melvin are the best managers going, or else there's been an eclipse in Bizarroworld. My money's on B.

Speaking of Ozzie Guillen, a baseball manager finally figured out how to get the attention of a football writer:
"I have never heard a manager or coach use the word "I'' as much as Ozzie Guillen. Who could enjoy playing for this egomaniac?"--Peter King

Granted, King is a man who thinks weekly updates on his latte consumption are newsworthy...

Worst inning of the year.

man, bases loaded and nobody out and we can't do anything. tsk, tsk.

that bottom half of the first was a pure joy to watch. something exciting needs to happen in this game

Wouldn't a worse inning be one where the Dodgers gave up a bunch of runs and then followed it up with a bases loaded, no outs and no runs?

At least Jackson had a good first inning.

The Twins got shut out by KC and got only 3 hits.

Colorado leads the Braves 6-5 in the 8th and could make it hard for:
1) the Braves to clinch the East
2) the Dodgers to clinch not finishing in last

137- I meant worst offensive inning because most teams are able to score a run with bases loaded, nobody out.

throw your change up edwin.

i dunno, what's worse: bases loaded, nobody outs in the first inning, or say, 3 straight 3-pitch strikeouts in the late innings against say, a russ ortiz or kirk rueter?

Regarding the inability to score with bases loaded, no outs:

I just looked it up, and it turns out that Kent, Cruz, and Navarro all happen to struggle against Wells' arm angle.

Dodger Stadium saves Jackson 2 runs.

Horrible play by Kent and Cruz.

blah.

i like this guy's name. furmaniak. fur-MANIAC. it must be awesome to have that word in your name.

Jackson is at 35 pitches already. Going to be a long night for the bullpen. I suspect he won't meet either piece of criteria #1 in my checklist (5 innings and no more than 3 runs).

146- he must not be a member of PETA

Whoever replaces Tracy has to be one or more of the following:

A) a recognizable "name" to the local media
B) have a Dodger legacy
C) willing and able to follow the DePo plan
D) can handle the media spotlight without melting

If Tracy leaves (fired or on his own volition) the leading candidates to replace him IMHO could be:

Kevin Kennedy
Jerry Royster
Glenn Hoffman

Kennedy is a name, a Dodger legacy, and can certainly handle the media

Royster is the Dodger AAA manager, and based on recent TV interviews, can certainly handle the media - and he knows the younger players

Hoffman is a loyal soldier, had the job briefly once before, and would probably accept the job again - even if it meant doing it DePo's way -- all the way.

I don't think DePo wants Dusty or Lou or Jim Leyland or some of the other old codgers who manage old "tyme" baseball.

He'd want someone the press won't nail to a cross when he's named the manager because he's not a "Dodger".
He'd want someone who is intelligent enough to understand his (DePo's) roster concepts.
He'd want someone who can stand the heat when the local media sharks are on the attack.

So let Tracy walk. There are options out there and they ain't that bad. It's all about being on the same page with your boss, the GM. And that won't happen with the current arrangement.

nate - I'm assuming you're not too excited about Jackson so far tonight. He's basically sitting at 90-91mph with an occasionally cranks it up a couple mph. Seems like he's playing with fire and just a matter of time before he gets lit up.

Colorado beats Atlanta 6-5 with Fuentes striking out Brian Jordan to end the game with a runner on third.

So, Atlanta's magic number remains at 2. If the Phillies win, they cut Atlanta's lead to four games, which would still be pretty hard to make up. Phillies lead 3-1.

The Brewers have rallied to go ahead of Cincinnati 12-9. A win would put them at .500, which would be a big deal in Wisconsin.

2-run homer for Fins!

Halos led the White Elephants 4-0.

Navarro did a poor job of blocking that pitch. Phillips would have smothered it.

hes tipping his pitches.

his arm action is a tad slower when he tries to throw his change up and when he tries to throw his slider he is going over the top more to get more spin on it

hah! not a cheap hit that time for aybar :)

come on hee seop!

What? No pinch-hitter?

XBH for Choi!

156- Phillips will come in as a defensive replacement after the inning is over

What are the chances of the Dodgers getting 8 more doubles in the remaining 6 games and 6 innings?

Productive out by Robles

92
1. only 2 more innings to go
2. check!
3. eh, so-so so far. he can still get a hit.
4. not time yet.
5. check!

What is, what was, and what could have been. Oh well.

160
The statisticians need to start keeping track of those critical "intentional grounders to the right side to advance a runner."

149, I would love to see Ron Washington, who has both an A's and Dodger pedegree. I heard Washington interviewed and he wants to manage. Would not mind seeing Royster especially since he knows the young kids. Something tells me that Kennedy would not do it, and I think many on this site would hate his tactics.

Randy Winn really isn't this good is he? He's 2 for 2 with a walk against Peavy so far.

165
I'm wondering the same thing about Aybar.

I have a question for everybody, and please reply, i'd really like your opinions.

Who has more trade value, antonio perez or robles?

Who has more trade value houlton or jackson?

Rate the trade value of osoria, schmoll, kuo, meaning something like osoria has the most trade value then schmoll then kuo?

no editorial comment from vinny on the possibility that people might find it hard to root for bonds :)

Kuiper thinks that Bonds is really sore and moving around poorly and may come out after this AB.

Bonds grounds out 4-3, but looks to be going back out to LF.

167 perez. jackson.

schmoll, kuo, osoria, i guess.

accounting is stupid. i never want to be an accountant. its tedious work that if i ever had to do on a consistent basis, i would pull my hair out and be bald. and thats saying a lot because i love my hair.

here comes the squeeze bunt. I can sense it. trust me.

or not :)

171
Thank for your opinion.

And thanks to anyone else who replies.

171 - if i was a GM i would think kuo has more upside. kind of high-risk high-reward

172
I used to want to be an accountant until I took an accounting class in high school and realized that if I had to do such tedious work on a consistent basis, I would pull my hair out.

172
Hey nate, are you studying accounting in high school (i don't know your age, sorry) or are you studying it in college?

i'm asking cause my major in college is accounting, i have a year and a half left.

oh lookie, willy with an r-b-aybar...

snickers at stupid joke

willy wit da wheels

its only acct 200. so just the basic one. its a prereq for business majors.

i dont think i could ever have accounting as my major. i now fully appreciate the work of accountants.

176 yeah, but his injury history probably takes the shine off somewhat. and schmoll's minor league #s are pretty good from what i understand, too

181
Oh o.k. your going for a business degree, cool.

I love accounting, but i hate all the rest of the classes that have nothing to do with accounting that are required for the degree.

what exactly do you love about accounting?

I'm a business major and I don't think I have to take accounting. I took it in high school and it wasn't a terrible class.

wouldnt it be sweet to be the dodgers GM in a couple years? (like 10)

i know there would be a ton of pressure but it would be so cool

this is something i dont get.

last year, BA rated jackson as having the best fastball in our system.

but jacksons fb has been sitting between 90-92.

how can an avg 91mph fastball be the best in our system?

That throw wasn't very good, but Bay had it easy. Shows how much Towers liked Giles, giving up both Bay and Perez. The Padres could be better now if they didn't make that trade...

wouldnt it be sweet to be the dodgers GM in a couple years?

id rather be the geek in the org that follows the prospects.

189 - they sold too much future... dumb move by kevtow

184
I've allways been good at math, so everything clicks when it comes to math stuff.
I like payroll, cost accounting for manufacturing businesses, and even some income tax stuff, but i wouldn't want to be a certified public accountant for doing people's taxes, cause it has alot of dealing with the public, i'd rather have a out of the spotlight job where i just deal with a boss, no dealing with the public.

190 - yea less pressure

to add tp 190, although that is basically what i do now, it would be way cooler if i got paid doing it.

Well I only got 1 person to answer my trade value questions.
And even tho I only got 1 person to answer my previous question, I'm gonna ask another question:
Rate the trade value of all these guys:
Izturis, repko, delwyn young, phillips, antonio perez, jackson, schmoll, osoria

Something like
1 jackson
2 izturis
3 antonio perez
And so on.

Debit to the left
Credit to the rigth
Stand up
Sit down
Fight fight fight!

And always be sure to credit in the rigthhand column!

Listening to the Giant game on the radio, the pain in Jon Miller's voice is palpable. He is so much of a hommer when he does the Giant broadcast...Bob the Giants wanted Randy Winn for a long time, and I have to say he has been pretty impressive-3-3 now. I saw him play against the Giants when he was with Tampa Bay and felt he was more of a National League guy.

anyone here watch niptuck? new episode tomorrow night. we should start niptuck thoughts. there is always drama to discussed with that show.

196
LOL, that was good.

bob, you do realize know, that jingle is going to be in my head the whole time im taking my midterm tomorrow.

might as well not show up at all.

195 - i had this thought. who has the worst short stop situation in the league? washington! trade izzy to washington! they would love him! jim bowden loves thos players

The Giants like those local guys I guess. That must be their only reason for holding on to Tyler Walker.

Wow, I really found my accounting joke to be one of my least inspired offerings.

Go figure.

202 - remember where u heard it first

I've been told that I'm not allowed to make fun of Jim Bowden because the Nationals had a better record than the Dodgers this year.

1. izzy (to jim bowden)
2. perez
3. phillips!
4. young
5. schmoll
6. osoria
7. jackson
8. repko

1. izzy (to jim bowden)
2. perez
3. phillips!
4. young
5. schmoll
6. osoria
7. jackson
8. repko

205

i'm fairly certain the izturis-to-washington idea has been brought up here before.

206 - that was half fun half serious... hed bite

209 - oh well

195-
1. Repko
2. Izturis
3. Phillips
4. Schmoll
5. Osoria
6. Jackson
7. Delwyn Young

(not numbered)Antonio Perez
That's how Tracy would rank them

Niptuck? The value of an accounting degree? Minds are wandering...

Werthgagne31:

1. Delwyn Young
2. Edwin Jackson
3. Osoria
4. Izturis
5. Antonio Perez
6. Steve Schmoll
7. Jason Repko

This is the art of being a GM. The glittering future always has more trade value than the workaday present. But you don't want to let go of the wrong guy. In the 90s, the Dodgers let go of the wrong guy too many times. The Braves seem to rarely let go of the wrong guy.

Izturis would get you a lot assuming he returns from injury and picks up his 2004 form. A sterling defender at short who hits about .290 is a good thing to have. There are better hitters who play short, but not many better fielders at the position, and that's an asset valued higher in baseball than here. Ask the Yankee pitching staff if they'd give up a little of Derek Jeter's hitting and heart & soul in return for better throws to first.

man i would love to lay a hand on those lineups planned out till 2009 by DePo

In the West Coast, Bob Dylan special is on now on PBS. Bye-bye Vinny...

Wow i would have thought the pitchers i listed would be towards the top of the list.

Nope, I was put in my place in the earlier thread:
bojangles
Only had time for the first fifty today - just wanna jump in and say I really enjoyed the "baseball as process" posts.
As for the contentious Mister Choi, assertions that all he needs are a manager who trusts him and sufficient at-bats against whomever are beginning to get a little old (though I agree that this was the year to opt for him, and really test him once and for all).
Noticed Bobby Bowden getting trashed again, here and there. More evidence of a lack of understanding re: humble pie rules. The Nats
were in it with about twenty games to go, in a much tougher division, and a GM position with much less wiggle room than Paulie had, and parallel crippling injuries.
This round goes to the Man-Who Doesn't-Get-It
over the patron saint of New Dogma. One of the many beauties of real-world ball....
(think of the Iraq of Paul Wolfowitz and others at Defense vs. real-world Iraq).

213 - id give up all of jeters team player-ness for ARod at short (hes much better)

211- LOL i thought u were crazy 4 a sec

why do i always think the worst whenever tracy comes out to the mound unexpectedly?

The Mets have tied the Phillies in the 8th at 5-5.

164 - Louis in SF - Ron Washington is an interesting thought. But, I don't think he's got enough Dodger blue in his background as the others I named previously. A Dodger pedigree is going to be an important consideration if DePo does not sign up Dusty or Lou or Jim L.

Kevin Kennedy
Ron Washington
Jerry Royster
Glenn Hoffman
Others?

I still believe Kennedy is a strong possibility. Not sure what "tactics" you are referring to - the Canseco pitching appearance? He's got big-time media savvy, and was known as a players' manager. Both are big pluses in these times. I believe he would be willing to work within DePo's scheme. He doesn't sound as reactionary or close-minded as some other ex-player/manager commentators (insert Joe Morgan's name here). He may not be a favorite choice of the stat clan, but he might be the right pick for this particular situation.

Halos 4, White Elephants 3 now in the 8th.

199-
Yeah I watch Nip/Tuck. Just started watching it last year.

That play by Choi almost put him on the bench until 2009.

In their last 2 games, the Padres have 5 hits.

Orel could be a canidate.

strong ties to dodgers, respected figure, seems willing to new ideas.

I was browsing around, what did Choi do?

This pitcher for the Pirates spells his name like someone who gave up trying to spell Grudzielanek.

213
dzzrtratt
you forgot to rate phillips on the list, where would you rank him?

I believe the name is German (Gorzelanny).

Runner on first base. Grounder to Choi. He looks at second base, thinks about it, then decides to jog to first base. Meanwhile, the batter is racing up the line and Choi isn't even aware. Batter is called out but could easily have been called safe.

This might have been a worse play than the play that lives in Choifamy.

Is Jim Tracy the score keeper?

official scorer is a tracy fan. took away the hit from choi.

against a lefty no less.

232 No way, Choi just has a great sense of timing. Just like the shortstop who can throw the rainbow and beat the runner by half a step.

Mets go ahead of the Phillies 6-5 in the 8th.

It may be too late there for the fans to boo.

227. Recap -- Whoever replaces Tracy has to be one or more of the following:
A) a recognizable "name" to the local media
B) have a Dodger legacy
C) willing and able to follow the DePo plan
D) can handle the media spotlight without melting
If Tracy leaves (fired or on his own volition) the leading candidates to replace him nominated (in no particular order) are . . .
Kevin Kennedy
Jerry Royster
Glenn Hoffman
Ron Washington
Orel Hersheiser

Very poor defensive play by Robles

Steve Finley is 2 for 4 tonight.

Giles saved a homer there.

The Padres desperately needed to win the Peavy game. It looks like that could be problematic

Hoffman hadn't blown a save since April I believe.

Carrara's got little chance at being back next year. Why isnt the 7th inning reserved for Kuo or Brox?

I assume Schmoll or Brazo gets the 8th, and Duaner the 9th.

Carrara and Wilson Alvares should be the odd men out.

237 - You mean you can't hear the booing from LA Bob?

I think as 226 stated, 5 hits in two games comes back to haunt.

AJ Burnett was told to take a hike by the Marlines this evening. This after his critical remarks about McKeon and his staff.

My apologies if this was posted earlier while I was away for a few innings.

"Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest said Burnett has been asked to leave the team and will not be offered a multiyear contract during the offseason. The decision came a day after the pitcher said the team plays scared because manager Jack McKeon and the coaching staff are too negative."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2173336

Perhaps the Giants will be an inspiration to their Bay Area compatriots?

i met larry beinfest and he is kind of weird... he watches a movie every night... he treats his players like property

jp ricciardi is really cool... i told him i am a dodger fan and he told me everything about DePo. like jp got DePo his first job

Benitez time!

I need to see it again, but Kent didn't seem to try to field that throw at all

it wasnt like the marlins are going to be able to afford burnett this winter anyways.

no check off for Navarro tonight on my list. I need Kuo to go an inning to hit 4 of 5 from post #92.

Jackson = check
Aybar = check
Navarro = not a good night
Choi = check
Kuo = too early to tell

Trevor Hoffman's last blown save prior to tonight was April 29. In that game, San Diego went on to beat Arizona anyway 5-4 in 15 innings.

247 - So not trading Burnett to the Orioles ruined both teams' seasons?!?

It's almost like last year when the Sox didn't get ARod....except not.

jp ricciardi is really cool... i told him i am a dodger fan and he told me everything about DePo. like jp got DePo his first job

did JP tell you how toronto offered their GM job first to depo and when depo turned it down, they offered it to JP.

Kielty is a poster child for red haired people?

Does Burnett blasting management mean he lacks character and does not fit McCourt's requirement for next season?

The Padres getting just 3 hits off of Brad Henessey & Co. is shameful. Even the Dodgers beat him up.

LIGHT UP THE HALO!

The A's lose on some very questionable Ks...

Hatteburg, Crosby, Johnson, and Swisher just died in September.

They all have BA's below .200..

Angels magic # at 2.

JT Snow got some camera time at PETCO. With his chin.

Light up the...really big Glove missing a finger?

San Diego magic number.

It's still 4.

And the Diamondbacks are still in it!

6-5 Mets in the top of the 9th.

Shingo Takatsu in line for the win.

Kuo Loogies Macowiak.

The headline for today's notes: Tracy's future in question. Commentary to come soon...

257 - no he left that part out

268 - don't tease us like that.

Good job Hong.

check

and with that I officially proclaim this game a success.

Phillies have the top of the order up in the 9th: Rollins, Lofton, and Utley.

Utley had an error in the 8th that tied up the game.

257 - no he left that part out

if i was second choice for something i would probably leave it out too.

So if this weekends games mean something, whom pitches for the Dodgers?

All the Giants need to do is win 2 of 3, and they will.

If Jim Tracy doesnt completely lie down and put our C team out there against the Padres, he's going to draw the ire of many dodger fans. Possibly even some negative press for helping our arch rivals out.

So if this weekends games mean something, whom pitches for the Dodgers?

All the Giants need to do is win 2 of 3, and they will.

If Jim Tracy doesnt completely lie down and put our C team out there against the Padres, he's going to draw the ire of many dodger fans. Possibly even some negative press for helping our arch rivals out.

cruz isnt this good is he?

I think Tracy would not pull a Davey Johnson and send the 2005 Robinson Checo to the hill in a game where the division was on the line.

Stop the presses. 2 back-back 1st pitch hits...

Is Jose Cruz Jr. our Randy Winn?

Utley doubled with 2 outs. And the Mets are going to intentionally walk Abreu to face Burrell. Roberto Hernandez pitching for NY.

Well, the notes weren't very good despite the headline. Gurnick starts with: 'As much as Jim Tracy would like his job status to be a non-issue, it isn't, not with the seven-day opt-out window that starts next week and would allow the manager to void the final season of his contract.' This comment makes it seem like the FO might try to get rid of him, even if he doesn't void the contract. Then Gurnick says later 'It's his decision to make.' The only Tracy quote:

"I'm not sitting around, giving it a lot of thought," he said. "I have a very good job right now."

Not much else. There's an interesting quote from Robles:

"It will probably be different," said Robles [talking about winter ball]. "The fans will probably be expecting me to do more because of the way this season has been. But I'm going to play about six weeks, maybe get 150 at-bats. If I don't play in the winter, I have a tendency to get fat [from] eating all of that Mexican food."

278. I hope Tracy does. Maybe he took that piece of Davey Johnson expertise to heart when he was DJ's bench coach.

i thought mexican food was pretty healthy for you.

And Burrell hit a check swing grounder to the mound on the first pitch.

Phillies fall 1 1/2 behind the Astros.

Braves magic number: 1

Astros magic number: 5

283 - Fried food, with cheese and sour cream?

Does Tracy not like Werth either? Why not pinch hit Ledee for Repko?

That one is strange.

286

Oscar Robles likely eats real Mexican food so he probably doesn't eat much cheese and sour cream.

But he probably eats a lot of beans and rice and other fried stuff.

If Kent decided to finally get a serious injury (although it didn't look that serious), at least he did it now

I initially thought Kent hurt his leg, but replay shows he got tagged in the nuts.

Pinch hit for Werth, but not Repko?

Kent took that motherf*cker out

288 - But Oscar probably just calls it "food."

Repko surges to the team lead in triples with 3!

Repko's having a nice night I must say

Ricky Ledee reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by second baseman Freddy Sanchez. Jeff Kent scores. Jose CruzJr. to 3rd. Dioner Navarro to 2nd.
Huh?

Tracy's a genius. Jason Repko might win the season triples award after tonite.

283 - mexican food is extremely fatty

A base-clearing triple in Dodger Stadium!
Rarer than hen's teeth, I'll bet.
One of the old Elias books had DS as the worst park for triples, by far. Park Factor of 0.5 or so.

274 - not like they settled for substandard... they are very similiar

sanchez threw home, hit the catcher in the nuts and bounces off. kent proceeds to slide into the catchers thigh and is safe because catcher doesnt have the ball.

meanwhile, catcher tags kent in the nuts in a feeble attempt of an out.

both players would probably not want to do that again.

301 - Yeeee-ouch.

Guess Tracy doesnt want to let Myrow hit against lefties either.

Please let this Jason Phillips non=sense end. He plays enough as it is on days he has to catch.

Let the youngsters hit.

276 - "If Jim Tracy doesnt completely lie down and put our C team out there against the Padres, he's going to draw the ire of many dodger fans. Possibly even some negative press for helping our arch rivals out. "

No way. Tracy would get harsh criticism only if he doesn't play hard in a game with title implications. Integrity is much more important than any rivalry.

Aybar did a heck of a job checking his swing on the 2-0 pitch

We are going to pay and pay and pay for this game.

In 1988 Alfredo Griffin hit 3 triples for the Dodgers.

All 3 came with the bases loaded, tying the single season major league record.

However, they were all on the road (Atlanta, San Francisco, and St. Louis)

Just another walk for Aybar...

If the Dodgers had not lost Saturday night, they would still be alive in the divisional race.

how many bbs is that for aybar now?

307 - Now that you mention it, I remember those.
And with three swings of the bat, Griffin had one-third of his RBIs for the season.

Good at bat Choi. Thats a walk with a good umpire.

Griffin hit one home run in 1988. And it was in the 8th inning of a 2-1 win at Montreal.

310 13. He has 8 Ks. And 67 ABs. If Aybar can get on base in his next AB, he'll have an OBP of .500

Tomko vs. Eaton tomorrow night in San Diego

Grabowski actually played that well. That's unusual for him

315 And Hennessey vs Peavy was a guarunteed Padres win. they really need to win soon

Griffin's OPS, by season, during his Dodger days: 512, 595, 512 and 557.
ick.

Yhency has given up quite a few homers this year.

Yhency has given up quite a few homers this year.

that could be expanded to "the dodgers staff has given up quite a few homeruns this year"

318 That's because he's never thrown a pitch down in the zone in his life.

320. I wonder what Brazo's trade value is for the off-season?

So far, I found no bases-loaded triples for the Dodgers at home in 2004. Jose Hernandez had one in Cincinnati.

yhencys trade value is probably quite low. better best thing to do is keep him and hope he improves offspeed and fb location.

It just occurred to me that the only reason Jeff Kent is playing is because he's hunting for that 30th home run.

When/If that comes, he'll sit for the rest of the year and AP will play.

323 Agree.

vin just said gagne threw in the bullpen today...

BRING ME THE MONEY GRABOWSKI!!!!!

awesome i get to say that one last time. If thats Jason's last hit as a Dodger, at least he went out in style.

Did that commercial say "as Jeff Kent, Milton Bradley, and the Dodgers try to defend the division crown?"

Aybar's numbers in 500 AB:
89 R 52 2B 7 HR 97 BB 60 K 15 SB 7 CS
In 600 AB:
107 R 63 2B 9 HR 116 BB 71 K 18 SB 9 CS

Aybar is a monster ;)

Is anybody else a little concerned that Jackson's velocity is still down and he's left a game hurting two or three times now in the past month?

Jimmy Sheckard reference! Woo hoo!

I'm starting to think that the bases loaded triple at Dodger Stadium by a Dodger is a very rare event indeed. I hope to find one before I go to bed.

328 Well they did try. Sort of.

331 - As I said, hen's teeth

Is anybody else a little concerned that Jackson's velocity is still down and he's left a game hurting two or three times now in the past month?

yes i am.

on another note, that duaner to dioner combo is lethal

Now we're just seven games back of the Pads with six to play!
(ponders)
Dang.

Kevin Kennedy just said he thinks Jason Repko should get a chance to start in the outfield next season.

Vote NO on Kevin Kennedy!

336- and in LF. He likes Repko's speed and thinks he could hit 15-20 HRs. Said the Dodgers need to run more, steal more bases. I've been amazed that people keep mentioning him as a candidate. There is a reason why he is unemployed as a manager (and has been for some time)

Repko could hit 15-20 HRs over a three-year period maybe.

Icaros, this might be a handy time to remind people that the last guy to win a job in "Spring Training" was Scott Erickson.

Kevin Kennedy thinks Rod Carew was a better hitter than Hank Aaron. He may be a candidate for the Dodgers job, but he is not a good one.

It looks like the last Dodger to hit two triples in one game was Eric Anthony in Montreal on May 18, 1997.

Kevin Kennedy just said he thinks Eric Anthony should get a chance to start in the outfield next season.

9/6/1997

Eric Young hit a bases loaded triple in the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium off of Livan Hernandez of Florida. It made the score 5-4 Florida.

The Dodgers ended up winning 9-5.

I can now go watch "Arrested Development"

July 14, 1995

Jose Offerman hit a bases-loaded triple against Paul Matthews of Florida.

Dodgers won 7-0.

Ramon Martinez threw a no-hitter.

Raul Mondesi had two triples in Colorado on 8/5/1994. Still looking for a two triple game at Dodger Stadium.

Timmerman slides, the tag...he is OUT at home plate!!!

Sorry Bob, but I just finished my rage-fest at Chase Utley and the Baseball God who decided to throw our entire season away on a play that Placido Polanco would have made easily.

And youse wonder why Philly fans are the way we are...

April 17, 1993

Brett Butler hits a bases-loaded triple against the Pirates' Tim Wakefield. Dodgers win 7-4.

July 2, 1992

Eric Karros has a bases-loaded triple against Philadelphia. He hits off of Bob Ayrault. Mike Scioscia started the inning with a triple too.

Time for a rest.

Mitch Webster hit two triples in a game in 1992 and like Eric Anthony, he did it in Montreal.

Last Dodger with 2 triples in a game at Dodger Stadium prior to Repko:

Steve Sax, June 29, 1984 against Chicago. He did it in the 1st and 4th innings against Rick Sutcliffe. He also stole home in the first inning.

Good night all!

Thanks for another interesting post, Jon. I enjoyed your perspective.

And finally Bill Russell had two triples in a game at Dodger Stadium back in 1970. So only three Dodgers have hit two triples in a game at Dodger Stadium: Repko, Sax, and Russell.

Steve Finley comes through for the Angels tonight. Great having a VETERAN out there who knows how to handle end of the season pressure and produce a big hit. A person would be a MORON not to want him on his roster.

Magic number for the Angels is 2. Magic number for the Dodgers is days till next spring.

Way to go FINS!

Also, Kevin Kennedy said tonight from the stadium that the Dodgers need speed next year. That's what it takes to have big plays--SPEED.

Now, I'm sure this flies right into the face for those of you frustrated bean counters on here that can relate to baseball by looking at numbers.

Tracy has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the managerial vacancy in Pittsburgh. It is believed that Tracy's escape clause gives him the freedom to seek other employment only after severing ties with the Dodgers, not to interview for other jobs and entertain offers while still under contract to the Dodgers."

Depo: I'd like to thank everyone for coming to this very important meeting...
Tracy's Agents: It's our pleasure. Jim told us that there was a very important matter that needed to be discussed.
Depo: Exactly! I'm glad we're on the same page. Frank and I feel that some changes need to be made...
Tracy's Agents: Yes! Well...Jim why don't you tell them yourself.
Tracy: Frank (handshake), Paul (handshake). I was elated when I heard that you guys were interested in discussing the future of the team. You see, last night I had a vision. My gut told me about a young catcher who wasn't getting much playing. The kid is hitting over .300 with runners in scoring position, yet I can't find a place in the for him. He is being blocked by the Korean fellow with the big loopy swing, who lacks baseball savvy. So I figured, since we could use some help in the bullpen, if possible..we could swap him for Matt Herges, who I am very close with. This would free up the starting first base job for the young bugger...
Depodesta slams his fist on the table
Depo: I've had it!
Frank McCourt tries to calm Depodesta down, but he is unable to contain
Tracy: I know it was just a vision, but is there a distinct possibility that it could become a reality? I would think so.
Depo: You just don't get it!
Depodesta, a disciple of Billy Beane, does his best imitation of Beane by hurling a chair against the wall causing the concrete wall to crack.
Depo: In case you didn't get it, you're fired.
Depodesta leaves the room

Just like those speedy Red Sox, eh, Tommy?

Bob,
I just think we need to be doing some wind sprints while carrying some sand bags or something.

We need some extra speed. Especially if Tracy comes back and wants to bunt a lot! :)

353 I think you missed the important part

'However, the Daily News has learned that a meeting took place sometime on the Dodgers' previous homestand in the office of owner Frank McCourt involving McCourt, Tracy, general manager Paul DePodesta and Tracy's Houston-based agents, Alan and Randy Hendricks. The purpose of that meeting is unclear, but the presence of the Hendricks brothers is a clear indication it had something to do with Tracy's status.'

352 - Tommy, what's the difference between veteran Finley and rookie Jason Repko, both for the season and for what they did Monday night?

in other news, the tentative 2006 sched has the dodgers heading out my way to play the twinkies. i was hoping for a reason to get to safeco next year, but this is a welcome replacement for that trip. now you will all see the horror that is the hhh metrodome!

from steve henson's column in the times this morning:

"In the manager's office, Jim Tracy is confronted with his own one-through-nine dilemma. Coming up with a formidable batting order is a challenge every bit as perplexing as the most difficult Sudoku problem.

If Jeff Kent bats third, who bats fourth to protect him? If Kent bats fourth, who is a legitimate third hitter? If Oscar Robles moves from No. 2 to No. 3, who handles the bat well enough to bat second?"

who indeed.

jim tracy has gone 27-7 against pittsburgh as the dodger manager.

now that's the way to impress the new bosses!

Only in LA could there only be eight players on the roster even good enough to be playing, yet still be a dilemma about who is played.

357 - $5.7M?

357 - .020 in OPS? (in favor of Repko, believe it or not)

[352] yeah, too bad we don't have steve finley. those poor angel fans have been getting hoarse booing him every night, they could use a breather: http://6-4-2.blogspot.com/2005/08/just-hit-damn-ball-steve.html

and it's not like we dodger fans have enough to boo about anyway.

by the way, the only reason i'm feeling at ALL like a "frustrated bean counter" watching the dodgers this year is because of jim tracy.

and you're right, we don't have speed. but if we don't then we should acknowledge it and not try to play as if we did. how many times do robles and izturis have to get caught stealing before the manager stops giving them the green light? how many botched hit-and-run plays do we need, or misguided windmills from the 3rd base coach?

i have nothing against speed in principle, but we obviously don't have it, and it's generally priced way beyond what it's worth, so i'm not inclined to go find it.

Steve Finley is garbage.

On another note, the Marlins chemistry purge has begun.

I realize many of you know this, but last night was not about lineup construction. Jason Repko, while not a great major league hitter, will occasionally have a good game. When you get a big game out of your No. 8 slot, which will happen on occasion thanks to the law of averages, that's the kind of thing that is going to help your team win.

But when your big hitter for the game was batting eighth, that illustrates that the victory was due to anything but lineup construction.

Hi All,

It has been a while since I've been able to puruse D-T, let alone post! I sure do miss it, but I'm thinking I'll have more time in the off-season.

Anyway, I read enough of yesterday's posts to find out what Werth had to say about Kent. Here's another snippet from Repko:

``Jeff's a leader,'' Repko said. ``He's a leader by the way he plays. He talks to us individually and helps us with our game. I know he's helped me by mentioning things that have been a big help. We all want to play the way he plays.''

I think the whole chemistry theory is bunk... it's effort like Kent's to show leadership by example and one-on-one conversations that breed the drive to perform at one's best. What higher compliment could a compatriot give you than "We all want to play the way he plays."

I really don't care if Kent's a loner for the most part... sounds to me like he puts an arm around a guy when he needs to to.

I suppose Chemistry guys like Plaschke expect them to eat dinner and spend holidays together too.

367 I suppose Chemistry guys like Plaschke expect them to eat dinner and spend holidays together too.

I'm sure that's how Plaschke runs things at the LA Times. If T.J. Simers isn't getting along with J.A. Adande, they have to go to Marriage Encounter.

"I really don't care if Kent's a loner for the most part... sounds to me like he puts an arm around a guy when he needs to to."
---------

Yeah, like in a chokehold.

I am concerned about the considerable possibility that Kent won't be here next year. He has been quoted in the Times as saying it would be very difficult next year to again be surrounded by so many youngsters, which is not what he was told when signed by the Dodgers.

Does he feel duped? Only he knows, but I would expect that he will have a long conversation with management re: their direction and purpose for next year. I hope he decides to be a part of it.

357.
What do you mean the horror that is the HHH Metrodome? I've always liked going to games there, it never seemed like terrible park, and certainly not something that taxpayers should be expected to replace.

370 - Why do you believe there is a strong possibility that Kent won't be with the Dodgers next year? He is not a free agent. Who cares if he doesn't like so many youngsters around, especially when it was partially due to injuries. He's paid big $ to produce on the field and has a contract through '06.

The Homerdome is the best ballpark in baseball, except for all the other parks.

Actually, I thought The Vet and The Kingdome were worse. But among actively used parks, the HHH is easily the awfulestest I've been to. Hefty bags are for me to put trash into, not for outfielders to leap on.

Though I have to admit, the half-removed football grid lines on the playing field add a certain aura of class.

356- I pasted that paragraph also, but it must have been deleted. I'm not used to my new laptop (with the keypad).

Re: Kent 370 He has been quoted in the Times as saying it would be very difficult next year to again be surrounded by so many youngsters, which is not what he was told when signed by the Dodgers.

The implication of the comment in the Times is he doesn't want to be on a rebuilding team, a la the Pirates. Assuming the Dodgers are keeping Penny and Lowe, perhaps Perez, certainly Gagne, plus Drew, and whatever corner outfielder and/or third baseman and/or first baseman DePo trades for, I don't think the Dodgers will be starting from scratch. I doubt DePo does not want the class of 2007 to have to carry the team by itself, so it's likely there will be an attempt to bring in vets for slots where they won't block the most likely minor leaguers to be promoted, but will be able to offer them some protection in the lineup.

Isn't this pretty much what we're going to see next year?

C Navarro
1B Choi/Saenz or trade
2B Kent
SS Robles/Perez/Izturis
3B Aybar or trade
LF Werth or trade
CF Drew
RF D. Young or trade

P Penny
P Lowe
P Perez or trade
P Weaver or trade or Houlton
P Jackson or other rookie

RP Gagne
RP Yhency
RP Sanchez
RP Broxton
RP Schmoll

Depending on who fills the slots marked "trade," this could be a division winner, or a .500 team.

"I doubt DePo does not want the class of 2007..." should either read "DePo does not want..." or "I doubt DePo wants..." I was trying too hard to make this point so I over-made it.

371

aside from being indoors, the poor sound system, the artificial turf (with the impossible to fully eradicate football markings), and the seats that are installed for football, not baseball, viewing, i suppose the dome is a nice place. at least there is light rail service.

we don't need to debate taxpayer subsidies for carl pohlad, but there is some community value to having the team here. hennepin county has a decent proposal on the table, although i have serious doubts about their site for the new stadium.

370. ElysianPark62

Will Kent ask to be traded? or Will it be Kent's team? Will it be Bradley's team?
(I've always hated that term it's so & so team.)
Does DePodesta want to fill in the broken pieces or start over. Are the players in the farm system future Dodgers or bargaining pieces?

That is my point--Kent will probably have a conversation re: the direction of the team, and if he feels the answer's not to his liking, he might request a trade, not that he can demand one. He could ask to be accommodated.

I can foresee the Dodgers again trying to bide time for the youngsters to start arriving in larger numbers. DePodesta pretty much said before this season started that he was not banking on another season like last year. He basically warned fans not to be too confident about winning again and stressed that they were focused beyond 2005. To me, that was very telling.

In that respect, I can see them trying to plug gaps with a veteran or two in the starting line-up, maybe giving more youngsters a chance to win a spot and continue to look ahead to 2007.

I would like to see more than "gap pluggers," however, someone like Carlos Lee or Hideki Matsui to provide a legitimate power bat, someone who will stay more than one or two years and provide some long-term production as the youngsters arrive and then mature.

378 - Will it be Bradley's team?

I would be very surprised if Bradley's back. Considering that he's been injured for a period of time every one of the last three years tacked on to his on and off court issues, it would be hard to argue for bringing him back.

How does Bradley not have an "injury prone" tag yet? Maybe everyone was too busy with his potential and his anger that they haven't considered his missed time.

I'm a huge (non-angry)Bradley fan, but considering the circumstances, how could you argue for bringing him back?

375 - Assume that Jon's 65.5M payroll estimate is a reasonable figure for next year's salary, and assume that this year's "about 100M" payroll promises were correct.

That means - if the team wishes to keep about 10M free for possible midseason aquisitions - that the team has about 25M to spend on FA's. If they spend that wisely I don't see why Kent wouldn't love to be here. If they don't spend it at all I don't see why Kent would want to be here.

Guess we'll find out for sure this offseason.

After a lot of thought, I'm fine with Werth in left next year, but we should have a strong reserve outfield just in case.

I think there is a good chance Cruz comes back, since I doubt any other team wants to send us a draft pick for him giving us a decent outfield of Cruz, Werth, and Drew.

What I would like to see is letting Perez play short the rest of the year, and in Winterball if possible, to see if he can hold down the fort until Izturis is ready. If he can, that lets us sign someone like Bill Mueller to a short term contract to play third. (I'm definately not sold on Aybar)

The spot I'm most concered about is fourth starter. Houlton is a decent option for the fifth starter, but, since it looks like we won't have much to spend money on this offseason, getting Ted Lilly probably wouldn't hurt. In turn, my fantasy lineup looks like this: (assuming we aren't Tracy lead)

LF Werth
1B Choi
CF Drew
2B Kent
RF Cruz
3B Mueller
SS Perez
C Navarro

Penny
Lowe
Perez
Lilly
Houlton/Duaner (a long shot, but he really should get a start at some point)/Someone who shows amazing progress in the spring

Bench
Robles
Ledee
Repko/cheap fourth outfielder type
Phillips/Bako
Free Agent reserve infielder

Bullpen
Gagne
Sanchez
Brazoban
Dessens
Broxton
Kuo
Schmoll/Cheap LOOGY

DePodesta pretty much said before this season started that he was not banking on another season like last year.

I remember quotes about the Dodgers "Rebuilding and Competing," not anything about to not expect last year's production. What more could they have done last offseason? What pitcher was available that would've put is in the playoffs? I suppose we could've gotten Delgado, but he'll be making 13M+ when he's 36, 37 and that's scary.

If the Dodgers spend about 25M in the offseason how could they not be a whole hell of alot better than this year? (Answer that without the word "injury")

382 - Because there's nothing worth spending 25 million on.

383 -- Nothing but Jason Repko of course

How is the direction of the team this coming offseason different, much less worse, than the direction of the team when Kent signed in December 2004?

Since Kent signed, the Dodgers' main events were to add Lowe, Drew and Valentin. All veterans.

Werth was already in LF with Ledee, Antonio Perez was already there. Beltre was up in the air. Catcher was up in the air.

Next year, the rookies will be older, the minor leaguers closer to the majors. There will be the opportunity to add established players. The team probably will not be getting younger in 2006 at any position compared to 2005 except catcher, and I don't see how Kent can't like Navarro over Phillips.

Perhaps when Guzman and LaRoche and some pitchers arrive in late 2006 or 2007, the team will be younger. It will probably also be better. Regardless, by that point, Kent's contract will be near expiration.

The direction of the team is the same. The difference between this year and last year is returning as an also-ran as opposed to a division champion.

If that's what's bothering Kent, he needs to suck it up. And I like to think he will.

383/384 - Giles, Trade for then Extend Dunn, Burnett, Trade for a pitcher like Halladay... or any pitcher in Florida considering recent developments...

381 - Re: LOOGY... won't Wunsch be back or is he a free agent? Either way, we can probably get him relatively inexpensively.

386 Giles is 35 and going to get a very large contract. Burnett is an injury waiting to happen (and he has bad chemistry apparently, McCourt's new chemistry freindly plan wouldn't allow that).

Trading for Dunn and Halladay are purely hypothetical. Trade who? Would the Blue Jays give up one of the best pitchers in the AL? What could we give the Reds (the fact that they reportedly just laughed at us when we offered Odalis for Dunn doesn't give me much hope in working with that team.

387 I think he's a free agent, but he would definately fufill the requirement of a cheap LOOGY.

Brian Giles is weak at keeping lunging catches of long fly balls from Randy Winn in his glove.

That could be a fatal flaw for any NL West outfielder next year.

McCourt's new chemistry freindly plan

Scary

390. Bob Timmermann

Yeah, I don't like the way he does a Vlade Divac flop.

ugh, why do we need mueller?

i'd take the risk on bradley being injured. he should be cheap enough so that the risk/reward ratio will be much better than drew's.

also, i'd want to get rid of phillips ASAP. navarro/bako is fine. maybe even keep grabowski around to catch sometimes.

393 Why don't we need a guy who hit .301/.380/.436 as a stop gap? If he want's a massive amount of money, sure, forget him, but I have no problem locking him up short term.

I would also take the risk on Bradley, but I'm going to accept the fact that he's not coming back.

Yeah, the initial police reports on Milton's baby mama drama didn't seem good, but then the later link Jon posted seemed to move the story at least away from milton bradley: pregnant wife choker, toward milton bradley: participant in crazy violent scuffle with screaming wife.

That's not to say he may in fact be a bad man, but the jury is still out. and center fielders with strong throwing arms, good OBP skills and home run power don't come cheap, and considering milton's trials and tribulations, plus his desire to do right by the home team....the dodgers might get some sort of a discount, at least on another 1-year prove yourself deal...

If we need a lefty complement to Perez at 3rd, Mueller and Russell Branyan are two names to consider.

For backup catcher, I guess it depends on whether you want a good glove/no hit guy (Bako) or a no glove/good hit guy (in which case I would offer up Craig Wilson, who is RH and can also play first with Choi).

394
mueller - most of his slug% is tied up in doubles (he's only hit 9 homers), and his home park is fenway. how's that going to translate for a player who's going to be 35 years old and playing in dodger stadium?

if he's willing to sign a reasonable 1- or 2- year contract, maybe heavily laden with incentives or something, then fine. but if he's looking for some team to pay for his retirement, then i'll pass.

branyan would be great, The true shining knight of the three true outcomes and a huge upgrade (which admittedly isn't saying much) over valentin for a year or two until the kids arrive...