These are just names I will toss out here and see what people think:

1. D. Willis - I would not do it because he would require probably 2 guys that can play at the MLB level and someone like Elbert in A ball.

2. B. Zito - If Oakland falls out of the race (You would have to wait until July 31, personally I would hope that he stays until the end of the year and sign him as FA, our biggest local competition really has no spot for him with their extension to Escobar)

3. G. Maddux - Not bad, probably cost less, not a dominating starter by any means but certainly has experience and would be a fine No. 2/3 guy in the playoffs.

4. C. Billingsley - Okay, I just think that once they settle the Odalis Perez issue, he will come up, I still maintain that he is suffering some R. Martin withdrawal and while experience tells us that at best we can hope for is .500 pitcher, he would be a non-pressure situation with some familiar faces around him.

Our chief rival contending teams looking for pitching will be Arizona and the Mets, one with prospects, the other probably with the finances, the Mets will be looking for lesser grade pitchers while Arizona will get lots of calls for their prime AAA prospects.

Go Dodgers!!

There is no team in the NL thats clearly better than our boys in blue. We could go all the way. I'm looking forward to the series with the Mets and Cards. I'd still like a proven starter. Say NO to Greg Maddux.

Midas needs to find a way to dump Odalis and bring in a Chris Capuano

Starters
1) Lowe
2) Penny
3) Capuano
4) Sele/Tomko/Seo
5) Sele/Tomko/Seo

Relievers
1) Game Over
2) Saito
3) Baez
4) JBrox
5) Joey B
6) Carrara
7) Sele/Tomko/Seo

It seems there are so many options on offense that I am not too concerned with adding another bat.

Starting pitching is what we need. bhsportsguy lays it out pretty well. Not too many other options out there, right? Livan Hernandez anyone?

The most distressing thing, of course, is that as always, our players are almost without exception recovering more slowly than anticipated from injuries. It's getting to the point where when somebody goes on the DL, I mentally lay 50/50 odds that he'll never play a game for the Dodgers again.

Another thing to consider is that although the Dodgers appear to be playing over their heads, the rest of the West is too, so they might be expected to decline along with us. Certainly Colorado is ripe for a huge downturn, and probably Arizona and San Francisco too.

2. B. Zito - No thanks. All the publicity he gets has obscured the fact that he really isn't a very good pitcher. And he who trades with Beane gets ripped off more often than not. (Jury's still out on Ethier, of course.)

3. G. Maddux - I wouldn't be opposed to acquiring him as long as the price is Delwyn Young-type prospects and not Matt Kemp-type ones.

4. C. Billingsley - This is by far the best option of the four.

And I wouldn't be opposed to going after Juan Marichal if he can pitch like he did in 1966. But he can't.

Just because he beat the Dodgers doesn't mean he's a good pitcher, just like giving up a bunch of runs in one game doesn't make you a bad pitcher. Why exactly would we want to trade for a guy with a 5+ ERA, a 1.5 WHIP, and an opposing OPS rate of .877?

The Dodgers had a bad game against him. But he is not a good pitcher.

No, no, a thousand times no.

Carrara did some nice things for us in 2004, but I've already seen him pitch this year (and got points for correctly predicting a blow up), and he was exactly the same guy who kept bringing in the gas can last year.

I would suggest you put Eric's comments about Kal Daniels into the "facetious" category.

That and they don't have three guys on pace for 20+ homers.

Yet.

Personally, I feel if you're going to go with just the one rookie catcher playing everyday, Navarro gives us a better chance to win this year.

I'll give it a go.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers 95-67
2. San Francisco Giants 88-74
3. Arizona Diamondbacks 86-76
4. Colorado Rockies 80-82
5. San Diego Padres 74-88

Lets assume that Kent, Mueller and Repko come back.

This could be the roster on July 31:
C - Martin, Alomar (Navarro is optioned to AAA)
IF - Garciaparra, Kent, Furcal, Mueller, Saenz, Izturis, Martinez, Aybar
OF - Drew, Lofton, Cruz, Ethier, Repko (Guzman and Kemp are optioned to AAA)
P - Lowe, Penny, Tomko, Perez, Sele, Seo, Beimel, Broxton, Baez, Saito, Gagne) (Hamulack is either DFA/optioned AAA)

I am not saying this is the roster I like the best, obviously having Izzy on the roster and not playing probably won't last long, I agree with Jon that if Martin is going to play 5/6 times a week, its better for Navarro to get at bats and play defense in Vegas.

Of course saying that anyone will be back from the DL is guesswork, especially Mueller and Repko, the injury to Kent does sound like something he can recover from by the time he can come off the DL.

Sure some will have to something to say about this roster.

Given the politics, Aybar would have to be the one even though he's clearly the best player of the three.

We'd win the World Series.

Sure, he's not stellar anymore...but at least you know he's going to make every start, and he's an upgrade over one of Bomko, Seo, Sele....not to mention, I don't think it'd take much to get him.

I just don't understand the Dontrelle Willis fascination. The guy is simply not that good..and they're going to want a king's ransom for him. The A's aren't going to trade Zito since they'll be winning the west and heading into the playoffs...and Livan Hernandez is just plain bad.

this is a joke, right?

There's NO WAY the Jays trade Halladay in the first place...and second, why would they take our garbage for one of the best pitchers in the game? The starting asking price for Halladay would probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of Billingsley, Guzman and Kemp.

Clearly the long-term weakness is starting pitching; everyone here has nailed it. My hope is that Penny and Lowe can hold it together, with Billingsley filling in strongly during the 2nd half. That gives us the three strong starters you need for the playoffs, with Perez as the fourth, assuming he figures his way back. In the meantime, we have to hope that Sele's magic doesn't wear off or that Seo improves.

I think that one significant point will color everything that happens.

BTW - I just heard a name on the radio I forget to toss in to the potential acquisitions (it is so impossible to believe that they would deal with each other, I hesitate to bring it up) but what about Jeff Weaver?

I don't think you're giving him enough credit. He's certainly not a cy young pitcher anymore but he is still a good pitcher regardless. This year he has 5 wins, 2.87 ERA, 1.18 Whip, and a 1.65 k/bb ratio. That ratio needs some work, but the rest of the numbers are solid.

I think you throw around the "best in the game" terms a bit too much. Seo is not that good and you can't base his value on one HALF of one good season. Broxton COULD be the next Gagne but won't be, and they already have BJ Ryan to boot. Kemp will probably be good, no doubt about that...and Izturis is nothing more than a utility infielder.

Again, they're not trading Halladay ever. IF they did, the asking price would be way way way more than what you proposed...other teams don't take garbage for ace pitchers.

you know I actually thought about that, and was actually a little intrigued. Wouldn't it be great if we got him, he pitched decently well, and another team signed him again so we got more picks? Good times.

Thinkblue is right. Zito's nothing special, and at 29, his best days may be behind him.

And I gotta figure the Dodgers are looking constantly to deal Oldalis.

stop please. the jays just signed halladay to an extension.

Wait, you're serious?

Where's Steve?

Yeah, Jason Phillips is taking them all away.

I thought you said Wins were the most important stat for a pitcher....so shouldn't we be going after guys like Kenny Rogers or Jason Marquis instead of Halladay?

You're flat-out wrong on that one, Eric. Zito is a really good pitcher.

DIPS lovers have always looked at him, and said, "he's not that good," because his ERA has been consistently about 0.50-1.00 below his DIPS, and then he had one semi-bad year where his ERA matched his DIPS, and they all said, "See, I told you he wasn't that good!"

The league had adjusted to him. They figured out his patterns. Heck, I figured out his patterns: it got to the point in 2004 where I was calling exactly which pitch he would throw next. Then last year, Zito went and adjusted back. He added a couple of pitches to his arsenal, became completely unpredictable, and now he's back kicking DIPS in the rear end again.

If money wasn't an object, and I had to choose between Zito and Billingsley for the next six years, I'd choose Zito. If you're lucky, you Dodger fans will have both in your rotation next year.

How's Broxton's eye?

All the more reason for the Dodgers to be prudent in how much he works in Vegas. I'm fine with keeping him there as long as possible. But I'd skip him a star here or there. Optimize his chances of being as fresh as possible down the stretch.

Depo reportedly believed in having minor-league starters work as planned relievers for a couple of weeks to reduce their innings over the long season.

The Dodgers need to keep the big-picture in mind while monitoring Bills' work load.

Lets look at how Grady has used Carter and Baez. Again, after a few outings, he quickly decided that Carter was not a reliable bp guy and he soon moved behind everyone and how after a number of blown saves, he moved Saito to closer role and Baez to set up despite Baez's veteran status and contract.

Again, no reported problems and the team continued to win.

Grady has put the kids in situations to succeed and therefore Ned has no issues bringing them up.

That is what I mean by being on the same page, it is not following a directive by the front office, do this or get out, it is just handling themselves professionally and doing what is best for the organization.

I would love Zito in the rotation next year but not this year at the expense of our prospects.

Billingsly is about two months shy of his 22nd birthday. Zito just turned 28. The next couple of years for Zito should be excellent, but 6 years takes you halfway into his mid-30s. If you said 3 years, maybe even 4, I'd agree and rather have Zito. Over that, though, I'd say Billz.

Jim Tracy was right and Paul DePodesta was wrong in regards to Choi and Perez. Its cut and dry really.

Halfway into his mid-30s would be, what, 32? :)

I'd add a qualifier to the statement that Loney has been on fire since going to Vegas. Indeed, he's been scorching hot -- but solely as a singles hitter. Loney's 2Bs and HRs project to about 36-6 -- subpar for a Vegas first baseman with designs on major-league starting work.
It also appears Loney's got a rabbit's foot in his pocket -- .456 BABIP at Vegas, .412 BABIP vs. LHP, .333 BABIP vs. RHP.

I hope James can develop some sock. But I'll say it again: a smart club would have Loney do long-toss regularly to keep that left arm stretched and strong. He was a very good HS pitcher. If Loney doesn't get that swing path and leverage that he'll need to produce at least an adequate slug rate for a 1B, pitching could be an interesting, last-ditch fallback -- not that life as a 4A 1B couldn't be more appealing.

If the team was hit by injury like it was last year (it's been bad so for but not like last season) and the younger players put in numbers closer to expectations (as opposed to right now, when it could be argued that the Dodgers would have 5 players finish in the top 10 for ROY honors if the season ended today...), if the Dodgers weren't doing silly things like consistently running themselves out of innings (-cough-LAA-cough-), I think many on here would take a much more wait-and-see approach.

In fact, see the prevailing attitude when the team was 12-17. Some people were unhappy at the play, but nobody was really blaming it overmuch on any one factor, and in fact it was mentioned consistently that the Dodgers were better than their record indicated.

I believe there is a motion on the table to end debate on the subjects of both Hee-Seop Choi and Antonio Perez. I move for an immediate vote on cloture.

Excellent point on Little.

What got underplayed in recent months was Little's development pedigree from his time with the Braves. Managing in the upper levels, he reputedly was very astute at development and got to know firsthand several players who became solid or better major leaguers.

Those players speak very highly of him. His apprenticeship with Atlanta is hard to overstate. Many major-league managers don't have the benefit of such a critical apprenticeship. Little worked with several bona-fide, advanced prospects -- pretty much like what the Martins, Aybars, Kemps and Ethiers appear to be. In this aspect, Little was the perfect man for this organization at this time.

One tiny point I made on another Dodger site in March was that Little would be good for Ethier. The hue and cry over the Oakland remark missed the point. If Little was advising Ethier to become a threat on 3-0, you potentially have some of the Braves power philosophy -- which has been fruitful -- melding with an Oakland-trained hitter who knew how to work the count but perhaps was a bit too passive at times.

Additionally, Barry Zito will cost quite a bit more than Chad Billingsly over the next 6 years. I would be very happy to see Bills match the level of production Zito has shown, but if he does he'll almost certainly be far more valuable with regards to a cost/benefits ratio.

I dont understand this.

Seems to me that would've turned out the other way around.

But I like Little so far too.

Not saying there isn't an argument to be made for Colletti, but I think his moves need to be evaluated on their own concrete merit. Same with DePodesta, of course, and there's plenty of room for fair criticism there.

Anyhow, I really am going to develop a major pet peeve on this. I can see it coming already.

I ask for unanimous consent to advise and extend my remarks.

But in the words of Stringer Bell, "The chair ain't recognized your @$$."

I think the biggest impact Murray has had is on Nomar's defense at first.

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=2945

I just learned that earlier this season, we completed the football-basketball-baseball trifecta of losing to UC Davis in one school year.

ive heard steroids all the way to being just a complete snobby A-hole. If he is still there at 26, you have to pick him. he has top 5 talent.

I have to admit I won't be rooting for the Cardinal in their next game. (Unless it's inexplicably against UT-Arlington... which is losing to Texas 2-1 in the fourth.)

i havent seen that anywhere except by gurnick. But gurnick puts potshots at depo every chance he gets so i am skeptical of the validity of that.

Actually now that I think about it, maybe he doesn't get the rest of the money on his five-year contract if he's working somewhere else. So if that were the case he'd be unlikely to accept anything other than another GM job.

My early comments by no mean should be construed as me saying that Neddy is better, this year's team should be judged on it owns merits, there are players on the roster that were acquired back when the O'Malleys still owned the club (okay only one, Gagne and he debuted during the Malone era) but I think you get the point.

109 - Only the article by Ken Gurnick on the Dodgers.com page, my impression is that Logan White took the best player on the board and he always pretty positive about signing him until the Labor Day fiasco.

Nate, I don't get it either. I just want bluetahoe to elaborate on that point. He said before he'd take Suppan over Peavy....I just want to know the logic behind it.

after the draft last year, logan white was asked the question who he was going to pick if Hochevar wasnt the pick. he said Beau Jones, a LHP prep pitcher out of louisiana i think. He was picked right after by the braves. So beau jones was the player we had missed out on.

one player i really, reallllyy wanted was Bryan Morris. Ironically, he is back in this years draft because the drays failed to sign him and I still really realllly want him at 31 or so.

"Former big league catcher Chad Kreuter will become the baseball coach at Southern California, taking over for father-in-law Mike Gillespie.
...
Kreuter will become just the fourth USC baseball coach in the last 77 years. Gillespie succeeded Rod Dedeaux in 1987.
The 41-year-old Kreuter is managing the Colorado Rockies' Class A affiliate in Modesto, Calif. The Nuts are 28-25 in the California League.
Kreuter was USC's director of baseball operations in 2005. He played at Pepperdine from 1983-85 before beginning his professional career."

I've read that too...I have to assume we wouldn't get much, but in my view Izturis isn't worth more than a utility infielder anyways. I'd trade him for a low level prospect...having that 3 mill off the books and ready to use for a trade deadline aquisition is more valuable to me than having Izzy plays once a week and have pinch running duties...

morris was available at 40, he dropped to the drays in the 3rd round because he wanted to go to JC for a year and play for his dad.

yes i would have drafted hochevar at 40 without a single question. he was leaps and bounds better then any other player left on the board. We are the Dodgers, giving out a contract comparable to the other arms top college arms in the draft should have not been a problem.

but whatever, what done is done.

http://tinyurl.com/qapmr

My thoughts on the subject exactly.

If the current economics of the draft prevents bad teams from picking top amateur talent, they need to be able to trade those draft pick assets for something else of value. Otherwise, the current system is completely broken.

The other difference is that in the NBA, a player can become an unrestricted free agent after 4 years but in the baseball, if a high school kid signs before he is 19, he can remain under that club's control for 10 years assuming he does not go on the 40 man roster until the end of that period and then the Player's Agreement regarding free agency.

And I do think that the MLB front office does have slot recommendations (according to reports, they were not pleased when the Dodgers gave $1MM to Andy LaRoche (39th round).

Has anyone participated in Inside the Dodgers' guess the first three draft picks contest? Seems like getting at least one of the three right shouldn't be too hard but the other two... harder. I'd say, HS pitcher, college pitcher, position player... in that order. Now the actual names I have more trouble guessing. ;-)

Or is it not that he doesn't watch TV, but he watches HBO.

I can't really tell whether you're disagreeing with 131 in your first paragraph, because we were essentially stating the same points but the rest of your post goes in a different direction.

I finally figured out who everybody was at the end of the last season.

They owe me another season just for all of my hard work.

Really, I just abhor watching commercials. If I thought any network TV shows were any good, I'd Tivo 'em and forward through the ads. But there's no show out there that says "watch me."

Not even "Yes, Dear"?

College of Charleston beat Notre Dame 5-4 in 16 innings. That's gotta hurt both teams for the next three days.

Except for "Yes, Dear" - I'm so glad that show's in syndication. I hope The War at Home some day joins it so we can enjoy them over and over again. Not like that kooky Arrested Development, what was that about? :-/

Glad the world cup is starting at the same time. Then I can officially tune it out.

No doubt, Jim Lehrer will be a standup somewhere.

Soccer has some quaint terms.

One of my favorites is when they list a reason why a player was given a yellow card.

The most frequent reason listed as "dissent"

I wonder if the referees writes that down in places like China or North Korea.

Substitution rules are usually eased up a bit and players who get yellow or red cards don't have them count against them when they play for keeps in the upcoming World Cup.

If you get two yellow cards (or one red) in a match, you're ejected. If you get two yellows in a series of matches in the same tournament, you can't play in the next match.

The World Cup talk on the Griddle is easily bypassable if you choose.

What's going to happy to Mueller when he returns from the DL?

Dave Marash, who was the first host of Baseball Tonight for ESPN, works for Al Jazeera now.

And he's Jewish.

Soccer season is never over. It's like golf, except more so.

When it's the only profitable spectator sport for most countries, it's in the interest of the sport to play it as much as they can.

But you will only have to put up with soccer talk on the Griddle through July 9.

I think it'll be Trinidad and Tobago and Togo in the finals.

Back to baseball: When Mueller returns from the DL, that'll presumably mean he's healthy, which I believe means he starts. Don't think his job will be taken away from him because of injury. But Aybar should stay and back him up (or Izturis?) Guzman goes back down to the minors.

On a more serious note, I think Arizona has more of a chance to continue their hot streak than the Dodgers, mainly bc they have younger players entering their primes and they have better starting pitching.

Sele-Tomko-Seo is really weak, and the Dodgers wont lead the league in BA w RISP all year. The rookies wont all be above average for the entire season, and some of the vets will come back and just play to their average selves.

The hot streak was nice while it lasted, but it had more to do with the schedule than anything else. Similar to July of 2004.

150 - Highlight of my winter:

NG: "Nancy Grace."
DC: "Denny Crane."
NG: "Nancy Grace."
DC: "...are you mocking me??"

-Karros hits a ball to left field, Bonds get injured and the center fielder has to run all the way to left field to retrieve the ball. Karros only gets a triple. The Dodgers were either down by one run or tied and whoever pinch ran for Karros did not score that inning. The Dodgers lost the game.
-The Carlos Perez meltdowns
-Gary Sheffield fighting Jason Kendall
-The Gary Sheffield tirade directed at Malone when he wanted a contract extension
-That big fight in Seattle
-Ismael Valdez coming out every game because of blisters
-And of course Chad Kreuter going into the stands at Wrigley

Outrageous libel.

Sorry for my misinformation.

A friendly is an exhibition match be it international or armature in soccer, cricket or rugby. It's just what we call them.