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About Jon
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1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
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4) arguing for the sake of arguing
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Garciaparra Flexible if Not Limber
2006-11-08 07:30
by Jon Weisman

If I had a chance to interview Garciaparra today, I'd ask him whether he is willing to play any position besides first base anymore, and whether any amount of money could convince him to be a super-utilitarian – something at which he might really thrive.
- Dodger Thoughts, October 25

Well, I still haven't talked to Nomar Garciaparra directly, but I can give you some third-hand news (from Bill Shaikin of the Times.

(Dodger general manger Ned) Colletti said Arn Tellem, the agent for Garciaparra, told the Dodgers his client would be "open-minded" about "playing first base, third base, maybe the outfield." If Garciaparra returns, Colletti said he envisions him playing one or two positions but not moving around the field on a regular basis.

While Garciaparra's second-half struggles (interrupted occasionally by some of the most dramatic hits of the season) force one to question the wisdom of committing to him long-term at any single position, his willingness to play two positions entices. The irony is that not being forced to play Garciaparra every day almost makes me feel better about being generous to him, since there would be less chance of him wearing down. His presence would facilitate the Dodgers starting the season with James Loney at first base and Wilson Betemit at third, because Garciaparra would be around should either falter.

Of course, Shaikin's article doesn't mention anything about Garciaparra's contract demands and whether they would be the best use of the Dodgers' resources, however limited they are. All I can say is that the more flexible Garciaparra promises to be, the more valuable he becomes.

* * *

Presumably because Garciaparra can't be counted to play five positions for under a million dollars, the Dodgers guaranteed infield reserve Ramon Martinez $850,000 - $800,000 for 2007 and a potential $50,000 buyout on a million-dollar club option for 2008. In this era, six-figure guarantees are of little moment; Martinez will make approximately $500,000 over the major-league minimum.

Still, there's something peculiar about locking up Martinez before any other team can get to him, because 1) he's Ramon Martinez and 2) Colletti showed he lacked confidence in Martinez by acquiring Julio Lugo last summer.

At the time Lugo arrived - the day Cesar Izturis was sent to Chicago for Greg Maddux - Garciaparra and Jeff Kent were nursing injuries, and the Dodgers needed an infielder until one of them returned. Saying that Martinez couldn't hold down the position for just a week or three is like putting a flyer at the local market that says Missing: Major League Ability. It says that Martinez is really just meant to be no more than the 25th man on a roster - which actually is true, but flies in the face of Colletti's faith in Martinez last offseason and this one.

Lugo won the 2006 Daryle (A)Ward for stinking with the Dodgers, but if you put aside arguments about whether Colletti gave up too much to get Lugo, Colletti wasn't crazy to think he could do better than Martinez. But now, 3 1/2 months later, 4 1/2 months before the 2007 season opener, with Betemit, Rafael Furcal, Kent, Loney, Olmedo Saenz, Andy LaRoche, Delwyn Young and maybe even Garciaparra or Aramis Ramirez to play the infield next year, Colletti is placing Martinez in a lockbox.

Looking at that list of players, I conclude that Martinez is around primarily to be a backup shortstop - it's the one position none of the above really qualifies for. Betemit doesn't look to have the glove for it, and Garciaparra hasn't mentioned it as a position he's ready to return to. And yet, if Furcal went down with an injury, evidence from the past is that Colletti wouldn't want Martinez playing every day at short for very long.

I don't know. I'm sure I'm overthinking it. And I'm going to stop here, because the signing doesn't deserve this much attention. While I can't say I understand why Colletti wants to commit nearly a million bucks to a player he may well be afraid to play, I'll just shrug and let it go.

* * *

The Dodgers made several front-office promotions Tuesday, the most important involving the scouting department. Tony Jackson of the Daily News has a quote from the big-name promotee explaining how his role will and will not change.

Dodgers scouting director Logan White, the man whose staff has been primarily responsible for stacking the club's minor-league system with so many prized prospects over the past five years, was promoted to assistant general manager in charge of scouting. Tim Hallgren, who had served as White's national crosschecker, is the new scouting director, but White still will have input into the annual two-day amateur draft.

"I'll still oversee it, but I'm still going to give Timmy the opportunity to run the scouting department," White said. "He needs to have that opportunity like I did. The reason I think I have done a decent job is because I had good scouts and good people who made it possible for me to do well. I will still see 40-50 players throughout the year, the top-end guys. Timmy and I work well together, and our philosophies won't change any."

White also will oversee the club's international scouting operations.

Meanwhile, professional scout Vance Lovelace was promoted to special assistant to the GM less than a year after he was ready to accept an offer to join Tampa Bay's scouting staff. That ended when Colletti, who was attending a college hockey game in Oxford, Ohio, and talking to Lovelace by cell phone, talked him into staying with the Dodgers.

Toney Howell, formerly a pro scout for Milwaukee, also was hired as a special assistant to Colletti. And Chris Haydock was promoted to assistant player development director.

Comments (153)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2006-11-08 07:59:49
1.   Gen3Blue
I too would like to see a more flexable Nomar, and see Martinez as a real puzzle. Just when Colletti had finally conviced me Martinez was a very solid fill in, Colletti himself seemed to lose confidence.

Looking at the promotions in the scouting department, jogged my memory a bit. During the Hochevar saga, Boras made some accusations about White that he quickly withdrew. White is too intelligent to cut off an option just like that, but in any case where there is no clear cut upside over other options, I doubt we deal with a Boras client.

2006-11-08 08:07:30
2.   Bluebleeder87
Garciaparra being "open" about playing other positions does make him more valuable i really hope Ned signs him now.
2006-11-08 08:39:03
3.   StolenMonkey86
But now, 3 1/2 months later, 4 1/2 months before the 2007 season opener, with Betemit, Rafael Furcal, Kent, Loney, Olmedo Saenz, Andy LaRoche, Delwyn Young and maybe even Garciaparra or Aramis Ramirez to play the infield next year, Colletti is placing Martinez in a lockbox.

All right, post-election political humor. :)

2006-11-08 08:57:47
4.   paranoidandroid
Martinez had a big hit in the playoffs and had a great battling final at bat to end the series too.

He had a solid season, is a solid bench guy, not too costly and has a decent glove.

I think he can be a ninth inning replacement for a Garciappara or Kent or Betemit who might be slower to cover the ground Martinez can. No superstar here, just a solid #25 guy.

I like the move. I also think signing Garciaparra to an affordable contract makes sense. I heard in the past $18 million for three years would get it done. That would be worth the risk to me, he can flat out hit and he talks like a team player, someone who just wants to win. He is a hometown boy too, might take less to stay home with Mia.

2006-11-08 09:12:15
5.   Bluebleeder87
4

but in the back of you're mind you be thinking, he's injury prone

2006-11-08 09:19:30
6.   regfairfield
4 What does Martinez do that someone from our system or a minor league free agent couldn't?

While it's not a huge money issue, making a commitment to a guy who will put up a .700 OPS in a good season isn't the best idea.

2006-11-08 09:25:52
7.   Sushirabbit
4,6 He's consistent. He seems to have no problem coming off the bench and getting it done. I think he's shown that he's not that injury prone. I thought it was crazy that he made the team, but I've been impressed enough that now think he's worth it.
2006-11-08 09:36:55
8.   Jon Weisman
7 - Consistent?

OPS by month for Ramon Martinez from April to July 2006: .511, 1.141, .767, .572. (He hardly played after August 1 - he had three hits, one of them that 16th-inning HR.)

2006-11-08 09:45:45
9.   blue22
Jon's right. Quite simply, he plays shortstop. No one else in the Dodger organization (right now) is back-up shortstop material.
2006-11-08 09:49:47
10.   blue22
I don't like the deal (I despise Ramon Martinez), but of the FA's out there, backup SS are few and far between.

Royce Clayton
Alex Cora
Craig Counsell
Damion Easley
Alex Gonzalez
Jose Hernandez
Julio Lugo
Tomas Perez
Jose Vizcaino

Slim pickens. I'd like to have seen Cora come back, but he's getting 2-years guaranteed from Boston anyday now.

2006-11-08 09:50:57
11.   Bluebleeder87
9

Garciaparra?

2006-11-08 09:52:06
12.   Bluebleeder87
how much is Alex Cora worth?
2006-11-08 09:56:35
13.   blue22
12 - He's made just under $1.5M each of the last three seasons. If he's signing this early, I'd expect it's in that neighborhood again (2yrs/$2.5M?).
2006-11-08 09:56:54
14.   natepurcell
trainwreck if you read this, check your email.
2006-11-08 09:59:21
15.   Bluebleeder87
13

Alex Cora brings show much to the table, that if i were a G.M. i'd sign him no question's asked.

2006-11-08 10:01:47
16.   regfairfield
10 From that list, I like Easley (who has been far better than you'd think the last three years, really) Cora, and Counsell. If I had to choose, I'd go with either Counsell, or Oscar Robles due to their left handedness and ability to get on base.
2006-11-08 10:02:55
17.   regfairfield
Wait, scratch Cora, I was under the impression he hit much better the last two years.
2006-11-08 10:06:40
18.   blue22
16 - I forgot about Robles. He'd be my pick.

Counsell is a double-edged sword. I'd like to see him over Ramon Martinez, but couldn't you see Little fall in love with him and give him 100 starts batting 2nd at the expense of Betemit and/or Loney?

2006-11-08 10:09:45
19.   Jon Weisman
18 - "couldn't you see Little fall in love with him and give him 100 starts batting 2nd at the expense of Betemit and/or Loney?"

If that didn't happen last year, why would it happen this year. Little basically rode Martinez's one hot streak, then when Martinez reverted to normal, hardly played him.

2006-11-08 10:15:29
20.   regfairfield
18 I think he was referring to Counsell.
2006-11-08 10:16:05
21.   Jon Weisman
20 - Oops, my bad. Sorry.

Still, same idea.

2006-11-08 10:18:13
22.   blue22
19 - But Izturis, Lugo, and Martinez got significant playing time at the expense of Betemit and Aybar.
2006-11-08 10:20:47
23.   blue22
20 - Counsell has said he still envisions himself as being an everyday contributor. That's why I'd stay away. I like my "professional backup shortstops" to be comfortable with about 5 games a month. It's a bad allocation of resources (having a SS specialist), but at least you're not compounding the mistake by overplaying the schlub.
2006-11-08 10:25:33
24.   natepurcell
apparently, the deadline to submit a bid for the matsuzaka swweepstakes is 5pm today. I assume thats 5ET.
2006-11-08 10:49:04
25.   Robert Daeley
So Ken Rosenthal thinks Boras would urge JD Drew onto the open market:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6149242

(after the Jennings section)

2006-11-08 10:54:11
26.   blue22
25 - How about this nugget:

Free-agent left fielder Luis Gonzalez wants to stay in the NL West to take vengeance on the Diamondbacks, and it looks like he's going to get his chance. Both the Dodgers and Giants are showing significant interest in Gonzalez, who finished second in the NL with 52 doubles last season at age 39 ...

2006-11-08 10:58:22
27.   paranoidandroid
Martinez thoughts:

He's not an impact guy, he's not a Zito or Aramis signing.

Many have mentioned ability to play shortstop, I think he's also taken a few balls in the outfield, right? Colletti and Little showed they like to make moves late in a game, something Lugo didn't do well or like, but it shows the Colletti/Little philosophy and Martinez fits that mind set.

He's also a relatively cheap upgrade of proven major league bench ability(less than 700K difference with new MLB contract minimum for major leaguers increasing) compared to the minor leaguers who could be role/bench players in lieu of Martinez.

Martinez also accepts his role, but is ready to play everyday in an injury situation as we saw a little bit of last year. He's small potatoes in the big plan, but he's a piece that comes rather cheaply and what we don't know is how he's accepted in the clubhouse. If he's a good teammate, that helps too.

2006-11-08 11:00:45
28.   twerp
Maybe Colletti's signing Martinez is partly a backhanded way of apologizing for inflicting Lugo on the Dodgers, and taking Martinez's playing time...har...

On paper Lugo should have been better, but IIRC he didn't do a single thing as a Dodger offensively which Martinez couldn't have done as well if not better....

9 RE shortstops in the Dodger organization...what about Wilson Valdez and Eric Riggs of Vegas? Are they considered potential ML material?

2006-11-08 11:04:28
29.   blue22
28 - Riggs is on this list of minor league FA's, so it's unclear if he'll be in the organization next year:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/news/262709.html

2006-11-08 11:38:47
30.   Terry A
10 - Slim Pickens was vastly underrated as a shortstop. I choose him.
2006-11-08 11:38:51
31.   jakewoods
nomars a goner

he wants a 3 yr deal and he wont get that from LA

2006-11-08 11:42:34
32.   blue22
31 - Has there been any talk from the club about offering Nomar arbitration? Seems like it would be a pretty good gamble to take.
2006-11-08 11:44:57
33.   twerp
Maybe 3 yrs is what Nomar would like but might not insist on if offered 2....I wouldn't think he'd agree anywhere for just one
2006-11-08 11:46:08
34.   regfairfield
28 Valdez is terrible, he had a career year last year with a .770 OPS, entirely fueled by his .915 home OPS. His career OPS in the minors is .680.

27 How is Martinez proven ability? He had a good year last year, and it was worth a .702 OPS. Does someone become proven just because they have expirence, no matter how bad they are during that time?

2006-11-08 11:47:07
35.   twerp
32 With the All-Star appearances and batting titles, comeback award, etc. the Dodgers probably would regard arbitration with Nomar as very risky.

Good chance he'd be awarded way more than they'd like to pay him.

2006-11-08 11:49:24
36.   blue22
35 - But for a 1-year deal with no guaranteed starting position, and without getting to test himself on the open market. He's also a type-A FA. It'd be a shame to lose those picks.
2006-11-08 11:54:21
37.   Jon Weisman
Nomar's a free agent, plain and simple. Arbitration is not on the table.
2006-11-08 12:08:34
38.   blue22
37 - Ah. This is where I get confused. Why is Maddux arbitration eligible (and Gagne for that matter), yet Nomar is not?
2006-11-08 12:21:28
39.   Jon Weisman
Maybe I'm the one that's confused.
2006-11-08 12:28:53
40.   bhsportsguy
39 The arbitration regarding true free agents rarely happens while the one with players under the team's control happens but it too has gone down quite a bit.

Generally the threat of arbitration is enough to get a contract put together.

2006-11-08 12:31:48
41.   saltcreek
The Indians have acquired Josh Barfield from the Padres for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and right-hander Andrew Brown.Plus they hired Black as manager.....dont know if anyone mentioned this.
2006-11-08 12:34:42
42.   Johnson
39 I'm pretty sure you have to offer arbitration to your own free agents (and have them turn it down) in order to get the compensation draft picks. No arby, no pick. So Nomar can definitely be offered arbitration.
2006-11-08 12:36:10
43.   Johnson
42 (In response to my own) ...unless the changes to the CBA this year changed that. I could have totally missed something like that.
2006-11-08 12:41:13
44.   Jon Weisman
40 et al - Yeah, I had a brain cramp for a minute. Thanks.
2006-11-08 12:43:14
45.   bhsportsguy
I know this is DodgerThoughts but I have to stick this in, for more check out Bill Simmons on ESPN.com today.

Thoughts about the NBA thus far....

Andrew Bynum: The Prince of Juvenation
My friend Matt "Money" Smith (a radio host for the Lakers) summed things up last week after I sent him the obligatory "thanks for warning me about Bynum" e-mail: "I watched him play every minute of every game last season and Summer League this year, so I can say with great certainty ... this came out of nowhere. NOBODY, I mean NOBODY thought he was capable of this. There's no reason to think it will fall off either. His moves are legit, and who's 7-1/290 to slow him down?"

That's the thing: Maybe he'll be up and down this season, but when he's up, is there another center in the league quite like him? He protects the rim, passes out of double teams, has great hands around the basket, up-fakes on his jump-hooks, rebounds in traffic, even has a motor that keeps going and going (unlike a stiff like Eddy Curry). I'm not sure what's missing here. This is stunning. This is startling. There's almost no precedent for it. Just what the Lakers needed: More obscenely good luck. Meanwhile, I have to watch Al Jefferson whip jump-hooks off the front of the rim for the third straight season. I will now pour scalding hot water down my pants.

Ahh, the rants of a Celtics' fan...
Okay, back to baseball.

2006-11-08 12:47:35
46.   bhsportsguy
A comment about Neddy's organizational reorg,
I like it, he is bringing guys in who have a track record while keeping two of the key Dodger people (Ng and White) whose judgement he really trusts. (Ng was the one who made the deal for Anderson (which also makes the Ramon deal premature) and we don't have to go on about White.

For Nate, I think that Logan's promotion could be more training for an ultimate move to GM, I would hazard to guess that Ned may believe that Kim Ng is going to get an GM opportunity soon so he wanted someone he could work with in place.

2006-11-08 13:04:20
47.   StolenMonkey86
19 - so we could predict Marlon Anderson will return to the bench next year
2006-11-08 13:51:45
48.   natepurcell
i dont know if i like the pads trade for them. I mean, Barfield had a darn good year and is a legitamate mlb player with 5 more free agency years left. they did try to fill their void at 3b but although Kouzmanoff can rake, he is as injury prone as it gets. Same can be said for andrew brown. he has back of the bullpen stuff/potential but he is also a big injury risk (dodger fans know this).

So what do the padres do to fill the 2b void now? Is a marcus giles trade imminent?

2006-11-08 13:56:48
49.   natepurcell
to add, I dont really consider this a "impact" move for the padres. Of course, if the stars align, kouz and brown could go off and become big time studs but the 162 game season will wear both of them down to the point where kouz's back will explode and browns right arm will disintegrate.
2006-11-08 13:58:04
50.   Bluebleeder87
47

he's always been a come of the bench guy no?

Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2006-11-08 13:59:35
51.   Kyle S
My apologies if this has already been discussed earlier, but in Crasnick's latest article, he mentions that Brad Penny has a partial no-trade clause. Does anyone know the details of his clause's limitations? Up 'til now I've tabbed Penny as a possible hot trading chip this offseason, but now I question its plausibility.
2006-11-08 14:01:37
52.   blue22
51 - 5 mystery teams are trade destinations without his (current) consent.
2006-11-08 14:05:22
53.   natepurcell
trading penny should be on the backburner until you can accomplish your goals on the free agent market.
2006-11-08 14:11:22
54.   natepurcell
ehhh
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=78519

dbacks expect to bid for matsuzaka.

and also this little teaser from newsday:
&The talk on the field before tonight's Game 5 at the Yahoo! Dome is that the posting price for Daisuke Matsuzaka will be significantly below the early projections of $20-$30 million. Teams have until 5 p.m. Wednesday EST to submit their blind bids, with the anonymous winner to be turned over to the Seibu Lions, and it sounds like the number will be much closer to the Mariners' bid that won Ichiro Suzuki's negotiating rights -- $11 million -- back in 2000.*

I will be really mad if somehow the dbacks land him.

2006-11-08 14:18:06
55.   kinbote
i think jon's overthinking martinez's re-signing. he was perfectly adequate as a back-up infielder last year and therefore was deserving of returning. the price is almost inconsequential. he did a good job and got a small raise. now we can focus on the next move . . .
2006-11-08 14:21:20
56.   Bluebleeder87
so watch the Dodgers land 'em
2006-11-08 14:29:52
57.   Bluebleeder87
if the bid is that low i'd go after 'em no?
2006-11-08 14:54:25
58.   blue22
54 - How could AZ outbid the Yankees if the number got that low? Doesn't seem like George would let a measly $5M stop him from getting his top prize this offseason. And you know that Boras would prefer NY to AZ as a destination.
2006-11-08 14:59:32
59.   Sushirabbit
9, wow. Guess I was wrong! :-) I have to say that I'm surprised by those numbers-- and I was actually speaking of this season (as opposed to career) which just shows how worthless my "memory" is.
2006-11-08 15:29:20
60.   Kyle S
52 - thanks blue
2006-11-08 16:05:46
61.   Sushirabbit
Lope's says Soriano wants to stay on East Coast...
http://tinyurl.com/y56r36
2006-11-08 16:06:30
62.   Sushirabbit
must learn to edit my posts, must learn to edit my posts, must learn to edit my posts...
2006-11-08 16:07:09
63.   King of the Hobos
I don't like Martinez much, but he's fine as a backup SS, and his raise of $100K or so isn't much.

However, this makes me question the logic that was used when Wilson Valdez was placed on the 40-man roster. We're going to pay Valdez a little extra money and guarantee he stays a Dodgers just so we can use him if Furcal, Martinez, Robles, and presumably Hu are injured? The fact that Jarrod Plummer had a nice year for High Desert doesn't help much either. About the only redeeming quality about Valdez is that he'd be the starting shortstop on my all-birthday team.

Also, can anyone verify the report that Ketchner has been signed by the Padres? Scout.com reported it a few days ago, but when the Padres finally announced the 9 guys they signed to minor league contracts today, he wasn't included.

2006-11-08 16:16:57
64.   Ladderkite
Is the Aramis Ramirez dream a possibility? How available is he? I'm not too clear on whether or not he is a free agent. I'm looking for some insight from the DT crew here. Lazy, yes. But interested.
2006-11-08 16:23:35
65.   blue22
64 - He opted out of the remaining 2 years on his Cubs contract, and is looking for a big time payday.
2006-11-08 16:29:17
66.   Ladderkite
love ya blue. thanks.
2006-11-08 16:40:11
67.   sanchez101
I don't understand the attraction to Aramis Ramirez from Dodger fans. Where would he play? At 3rd, where he's terrible defensively, he blocks two of our best young hitters. At 1st he blocks Loney, and keeps Kent stuck at 2nd. In the outfield, where he's never played, he would block Ethier.

Im not saying we have to commit to all the young hitters for 2007, although I do advocate it, why would committing to a minimum 4 years (and probably more) at a corner spot be a good idea? It sounds like a Kevin Malone kind of move, ie "lets spend as much money as possible on the biggest possible name regardless of how much it actually helps the team"

2006-11-08 16:45:06
68.   blue22
67 - The Angels (among others) are going to drive his price up too. It's not like he's coming at a bargain, a la Vlad Guerrero.
2006-11-08 16:51:15
69.   Bluebleeder87
68

& to think Vlad could have & wanted to be a Dodger but McCourt......

2006-11-08 17:34:28
70.   Bluebleeder87
from what i've heard the MLB.COM beat writer for S.D. is very upset they traded Barfield, but i went to ducksnorts.com & they seem to be divided on the trade, i really think this was an awkward trade.
2006-11-08 17:35:56
71.   bigcpa
Anyone else think the Padres' Andrew Brown pickup may have been the work of Google Boy?
2006-11-08 17:53:36
72.   Bluebleeder87
does Google Boy equal HomeDepo?
2006-11-08 18:15:10
73.   bigcpa
72 Yes according to a local Pulitzer Prize nominated sportswriter.
2006-11-08 18:42:29
74.   Uncle Miltie
I'd pass on Soriano. He's going to get a huge pay (5 years/$100+ million). Do you really want to pay Soriano that kind of money when there's a chance he'll return to his 2004-2005 form? I'd much rather see the Dodgers go after Zito.
2006-11-08 18:56:17
75.   stopthebeachballs
66

Not going to pull out the old, "You're my boy, blue"?

Anybody have any thoughts on the Pad's hiring of Bud Black? Pitching coaches usually don't work out well (so goes the cliche), but Black's been a wanted commodity for a while.

2006-11-08 18:58:05
76.   Marty
It's the Google Boy nowadays.
2006-11-08 19:11:38
77.   Andrew Shimmin
Wasn't Brown the PTBNL in the Bradley deal? Why would The Google Boy want him back?
2006-11-08 19:16:00
78.   Bluebleeder87
does anybody know who won the biding for Matsuzaki?
2006-11-08 19:22:31
79.   Terry A
78 - The Democrats. But there will be a re-count, I've heard.
2006-11-08 19:40:04
80.   Bluebleeder87
79

seriously do you know bro?

2006-11-08 19:41:39
81.   Terry A
I've heard the Rangers, believe it or not. But it seems too early for the process to have played itself out to the point of having an official announcement.
2006-11-08 19:51:26
82.   Bluebleeder87
81

i hope he goes there that's a pitchers nightmare

2006-11-08 20:05:29
83.   Bluebleeder87
i heard the Giants had the upper hand though, i also heard the world will end tomorrow at 6:18pm
2006-11-08 20:06:02
84.   Terry A
Be skeptical. Be very skeptical.

I daresay the Rangers "news" is rank speculation at this point.

2006-11-08 21:25:28
85.   Bob Timmermann
83
Which time zone for 6:18 pm? Or will it be a case where the world will end time zone by time zone at 6:18 pm?
2006-11-08 21:28:28
86.   Bluebleeder87
6:18pm means 6:18pm all time zones!!
2006-11-08 21:55:15
87.   trainwreck
67
Ramirez has a reputation as good defensive 3rd baseman.
2006-11-08 22:04:06
88.   LAT
Both the Dodgers and Giants are showing significant interest in [Luis] Gonzalez

Great clubhouse guy, but no thank you. If you thought K. Lofton's routes to a fly ball were bad you ain't seen nothing yet. Gonzalez's routes make a Jackson Pollock painting look like a straight line.

2006-11-08 22:23:33
89.   Jon Weisman
There's open chat on Lost at Screen Jam if anyone's interested.
2006-11-08 22:24:09
90.   Bluebleeder87
88

Also if you think Lofton's arm was bad you aint' seen nothing yet.

2006-11-08 22:34:44
91.   Greg Brock
The Niners have apparently told the city of San Francisco that they are moving out of town.
2006-11-08 22:46:08
92.   das411
86, have you seen/read The Langoliers?
2006-11-08 23:06:16
93.   Louis in SF
When I saw the info about Garciapara the other day I wanted to pick up the phone and get the deal done myself. It seems to me so easy and is not nearly the block on young players that many here say.

First, if you say optimistically that you can get a good 13o games out of Nomar, I say that is great and start from there. I make the assumption immediately that a player of his age and history will have at least 1 15 day trip to the DL. Assuming we can get the same production. Here is where the 130 games comes from: All 18 games as DH in the AL games, and then the platoon at 3rd with Wilson B and periodic rest for Loney and also the platoon-Loney deserves the chance to start but I question if he is ready to be given the position full time. As far as blocking La Roche, I think the injury and the need for a solid season at Triple A is imperative for him...As far as Martinez goes while the Dodgers were happy with Ramon's production, I think there was a real question if both Kent and Garciapara broke down, and they were unsure of how successful Loney's second call-up would be, I believe they did feel they need a potentially stronger and more powerful hitter. Also I believe that Ramon's new born had some initial physical problems, I don't know if anyone knew in advance of these issues. As jon says a contract under a million these days is almost meaningless.

2006-11-08 23:16:40
94.   trainwreck
I hope the Niners do not move to LA. I do not want to passionately hate a team from LA.
2006-11-08 23:18:04
95.   Greg Brock
Yeah, all those years of hating the Niners as a Rams fan. I wouldn't know what to do. I guess I would become a fan, but it would be really, really tough.
2006-11-08 23:24:46
96.   trainwreck
It would be annoying to explain to my future kids I have out of wedlock why I hate a team from LA so much.
2006-11-08 23:59:56
97.   Uncle Miltie
96- haha, do you go to UCSB?
2006-11-09 00:07:58
98.   caseybarker
8 ...but wasn't tht 16th-inning walk-off HR AWESOME!?

I'm glad I'm not a GM.

2006-11-09 00:18:29
99.   trainwreck
97
I just graduated.
2006-11-09 00:24:30
100.   Uncle Miltie
99- from UCSB?

That was a total guess...

Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2006-11-09 00:34:26
101.   trainwreck
Yeah.
2006-11-09 00:52:36
102.   overkill94
If Soriano gets $20 million per year I will eat my own feces. Seriously, you can all come over and watch it.
2006-11-09 00:54:03
103.   overkill94
91 Isn't that just a ploy to convince the city to build them a new stadium?

By the way, 102 was in reference to 74

2006-11-09 01:35:49
104.   Uncle Miltie
102- I think you went a little overboard there....

anyways, I completely miscalculated (probably has to do with the 5 hours of sleep a night I've been getting for the past two weeks). I expect Soriano to get $15-17 million a year over five years, so that comes out to $75-85 million.

101- complete instinct I guess. I knew it had to be SDSU, UCSB, or ASU

2006-11-09 09:28:59
105.   Bluebleeder87
102

why don't you just recorded on you're webcam so we can puke in the confort of our on home?

2006-11-09 09:29:25
106.   Greg Brock
San Fran is not in the business of publicly funding stadiums. I doubt it's a ploy. They'll go elsewhere.
2006-11-09 10:06:28
107.   blue22
106 - Is Santa Clara "elsewhere"? That's the predominant assumption.
2006-11-09 10:10:58
108.   blue22
104 - According to the Tribune, Aramis turned down a $75M offer (over 5 years?) from the Cubs. This came less than a week after he claimed the Cubs were his "first choice".

Maybe he just wants to see what's out there, and he'll come back to that. Maybe LA (either one) comes in with a matching 5/$75M deal and he splits.

2006-11-09 10:57:48
109.   Bluebleeder87
that sounds like good news for both southern California teams, i think the Angels, Vlad & there hispanic owner have the edge.
2006-11-09 11:08:17
110.   Greg Brock
I'm surprised the Matsuzaka bidding has not been released, or at least leaked. All the bids were in yesterday, Seibu has been informed, and you know that their going to take the money, no matter the bid.
2006-11-09 11:27:06
111.   D4P
Yeah, all those years of hating the Niners as a Rams fan. I wouldn't know what to do. I guess I would become a fan, but it would be really, really tough.

NEVER! The 49ers are evil, even though they currently suck.

I'm at a conference right now in Fort Worth, TX. I went on a bus tour of Dallas, and on the way back we drove by a construction site where a construction worker was wearing a Dodger jersey t-shirt. I wondered who was on the back. When he turned around, I saw the following:

Brown
27

2006-11-09 11:48:39
112.   Bluebleeder87
111

was it Kevin Brown's old #?

2006-11-09 12:04:57
113.   Uncle Miltie
D4P, how did you like Oregon? Can you tell me the plusses and minuses of the school? I'm going to talk an admissions person, but it looks like there's a pretty good chance that I'll get in (I already talk to an adviser there).
2006-11-09 12:05:02
114.   Shotupthemiddle
93 The logic's good, but Nomar couldn't DH in all 18 inerleague games. Half of those are at Dodger Stadium.

The rest of the argument, I like. We should get it done.

2006-11-09 12:16:18
115.   Benaiah
110 - I heard there is a good faith clause in the posting system. In other words, Seibu has to make sure that someone hasn't bid simply to block the Yankees and if they determine that is the case then they are allowed to take the second bid. So I guess it takes a little time.
2006-11-09 12:43:42
116.   D4P
113
Well, I grew up in Eugene, so it's kinda hard to separate my feelings about the school from the city itself. At the time, wasn't aware of the school's shortcomings, but having studied for 3+ years at a different school now, I can see that it lacked resources (public school funding in Oregon is a big problem, primarily because of property tax limitations).

That being said, I had a positive experience there. I was able to find some very good professors, and learned a lot. The city is nice, and affordable to live in. It's a pretty campus. I'm sure you'll find plenty of folks to drink with on the weekends, and probably some skaters as well...

If you're used to warm, sunny weather, you might get tired of the gray, rainy days that last pretty much from November through March or so. But it doesn't get too cold (mostly in the 40s, with some days in the 20s and 30s mixed in). Among other things, this means that you won't get to ogle all the skimpily-clad ladies that, say, Nate gets to ogle in Arizona. By the time the weather warms up, school is getting out.

I really don't know anything about the business school, other than that I think they built a new building a few years ago, so you would have that going for you.

(PS: Daniel Zappala taught there for a number of years, so maybe he can advise you as well)

2006-11-09 13:02:18
117.   Disabled List
Picked up this story off of Fark, under the headline: "Man tasered for wearing LA Dodgers hat. Don't even ask what they did to the guy wearing a Yankees hat"

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=local&id=4738161

2006-11-09 13:07:52
118.   Daniel Zappala
116 From what I understand, Oregon has a pretty good business school, and definitely some nice facilities. You could also come here to BYU, which has a better ranking, cranks out some very successful graduates, and has better weather and better skiing.

http://marriottschool.byu.edu/mba/mbaranking.cfm

2006-11-09 13:27:10
119.   blue22
115 - I believe the bids go through the commish's office first, and only the high bid is submitted to Seibu (and they don't even disclose the team). Seibu's response is either a go or no-go, not a negotiation on it.

Once the team is disclosed (post-approval) Boras takes over and does his thing. He can then negotiate a contract or push for a trade.

2006-11-09 13:34:32
120.   Uncle Miltie
116- thanks for the info. I actually like the rain. It will mean less skating for me, but I love cool, damp weather. I hate hot weather, which is why I'd rather go to Oregon than Arizona (if I get into both). I like to do a lot of things outdoors (run, hike, play soccer) and athletics seem to be pretty big at Oregon. I've also read that they have a state of the art gym and lots of club sports. I've heard that their business program is pretty good. They do have one of the best sports marketing programs in the country. I haven't decided what concentration of business I want to go into, but right now I'm leaning towards finance.

118- BYU is an outstanding school (they have one of the best undergraduate business schools in the country) and while I have a pretty conservative lifestyle, I'm not nearly as straight-edge as most of the students at BYU. I'd also feel a little uncomfortable being at a school which has a student body that is predominately Mormon.

2006-11-09 13:47:03
121.   dzzrtRatt
25 The Rosenthal story on Drew? If you read it closely, it is Rosenthal interviewing Rosenthal. It is sourceless.

94 I have been a Niners fan for so many years. Can't quite explain it, although the way Montana-to-Clark dethroned the hated Cowboys might have had something to do with it. Meanwhile, this was the era of the Rams being a boring, underachieving team that moved to Anaheim and always punked out in the playoffs. I stopped caring about them.

That said, the Niners are the most San Franciscan of all the San Francisco teams; it would be a sports tragedy if they moved to LA. Santa Clara is okay, but they've got to retain their connection to that market -- until the cheap, incompetent clown who swiped the team from an admittedly overextended DeBartolo finally sells.

York is this generation's Hugh Culverhouse; an owner who sees an NFL franchise as a license to steal, so why would you surrender any of that booty to become, like, good? As long as you can field a marginally competitive team, one capable of winning, say, three games per season, you're golden. Trying to be any better than that is childish fan-boy nonsense. The Super Bowl? What are you, eight years old? Go play with your Joe Montana dolls.

2006-11-09 13:53:03
122.   blue22
121 - one capable of winning, say, three games per season, you're golden.

Well, they're 3-5 right now. Optimistic much about the rest of the season?

Moving to Santa Clara would give the San Jose area one less major pro team than the LA area. Stunning.

2006-11-09 14:07:55
123.   dzzrtRatt
122 No. The Niners are a long-term project in my mind.

As an NFL fan, all I care about is that the Raiders and Cowboys both lose as often as possible, and in the most embarassing way possible. My ultimate evil dream is for both teams to blow 35-point leads in the final 7 minutes of their games on the same day, causing both Jerry Jones and Al Davis to succumb at precisely the same moment.

And I still root for the Jets. They're not as far away from being good as the Niners, but it's close.

Lately, my football day is Saturday, when I can either watch the Golden Bears or one of their conference competitors. The NFL gets interesting in December.

2006-11-09 14:21:55
124.   trainwreck
123
Well my Raiders are pretty much fulfilling your dream.
2006-11-09 14:28:33
125.   blue22
123 - You and me are pretty similar. Hate the Raidas. Despise the Cowboys.

I've adopted the Chargers as my AFC team though. I used to really dislike them (stemming back to the Super Bowl year, and my association with some particularly annoying SD fans), but that's since waned as they have a pretty likeable team now. Plus, as a Niner fan, I need someone to root for in the post-season.

2006-11-09 14:38:49
126.   Jon Weisman
When Bill Walsh went from Stanford to the 49ers and they became basically the most exciting team in football, and when the Rams moved to Anaheim and basically out of my sight, I started rooting for the 49ers. I didn't root against the Rams, but I did root for San Francisco most of the time.

By the time the 49ers faded out, I had stopped caring about the NFL altogether.

2006-11-09 14:47:06
127.   blue22
I rooted for the Rams during the Jim Everett/Henry Ellard/Flipper Anderson days, except when they played SF.

The Rams/Niners rivalry was never really one for the ages (at least in my lifetime) but looking back on it, it was probably out-of-line to root for both teams. Like if I started rooting for the Rockies along with the Dodgers now. It just isn't done.

2006-11-09 14:51:40
128.   trainwreck
I was a Rams and Raiders fan growing up, more Rams just because my Mom's family is mostly all Niner fans.
2006-11-09 15:00:50
129.   Icaros
I always get a kick out of people who are Lakers and 49ers fans.

Might as well wear a shirt that says:

"Hi. I started following sports in the 1980s and decided to cherry pick the teams that pretty much never lost a game the entire decade."

2006-11-09 15:07:40
130.   blue22
129 - I was only 8. Sheesh. :)
2006-11-09 15:07:41
131.   ssjames
129

Those very same people were Bulls and Cowboys fans in the early 90s. That was really the last time there were two dynasties in football and basketball at the same time.

2006-11-09 15:09:15
132.   ssjames
131

Rather people who started following sports in the early 90s were Bulls and Cowboy fans. Not to say that the Niner and Laker fans of the 80s changed allegiances.

2006-11-09 15:11:05
133.   Icaros
130

Hey, I was born in '75. I learned to suffer (at least in football) at an early age!

2006-11-09 15:21:47
134.   blue22
133 - The Niners didn't reach dynasty-level until the back-to-backs in '88 and '89. I started following waaaay back in '84. They'd only won two Super Bowls at that point, so they were practically an expansion team ;-)
2006-11-09 15:24:37
135.   D4P
I like to do a lot of things outdoors (run, hike, play soccer) and athletics seem to be pretty big at Oregon. I've also read that they have a state of the art gym and lots of club sports

Eugene is a good location for outdoor stuff, both in and around the city. The gym is around 6 years old or so, and is very nice. The high ceilings and natural light make a very pleasant and non-foul-smelling environment. There are a lot of club sports, including stuff like crew and ultimate, among others.

2006-11-09 15:26:06
136.   Icaros
Yeah, it wasn't until Jerry Rice came onto the scene that the 49ers became eminently worthy of my passionate and undying hatred.
2006-11-09 15:42:36
137.   Daniel Zappala
135 Gotta agree with that, Eugene is a great place for outdoors activities and has a great gym. I loved it there.

120 Uncomfortable around a bunch of Mormons is way below being uncomfortable in certain portions of LA. We won't shoot at you, we don't have gang colors .. about all we might do is offer you some jello or invite you to play paintball in the local hills. :-)

2006-11-09 16:17:51
138.   kinbote
sorry to butt in: i'm a university of oregon alum (via uc irvine) and i'd give it my highest recommendation. progressive city, beautiful region, and fun college environment. i would want my son to go there . . .
2006-11-09 16:18:17
139.   Uncle Miltie
137- haha, I'm not afraid of Mormon people ;), one of my best friends is Mormon. Every Mormon person I have ever encountered has been very friendly and hospitable. I'd rather not go to a school where most of the girls are Mormon. I'm sure they looking for a nice Mormon boy to start a family with and I don't fit that description.

My dad actually wanted me to apply to BYU, but he had the same concern about the girls.

2006-11-09 17:31:24
140.   sanchez101
Dodgers outfielder Drew opts out of contract:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2655862

2006-11-09 17:38:43
141.   tjshere
140 Inside the Dodgers has an article about it, too. Personally, I'm flabbergasted Drew did this.
2006-11-09 17:41:16
142.   willhite
140 -

I don't think Ned will try very hard to get him back. Don't think he ever really liked Drew's blah approach to things. Well, we've got an extra 11 mil to spend next year. Wonder what we'll spend it on.

2006-11-09 17:41:27
143.   Curtis Lowe
...
2006-11-09 17:43:40
144.   StolenMonkey86
ITD says at the bottom

"That's all we know for now, but it's safe to say he won't be back in blue in '06. Keep an eye out on the site for more information in the form of an article from Ken Gurnick."

2006-11-09 17:44:17
145.   StolenMonkey86
do we still get draft picks for Drew?
2006-11-09 17:47:04
146.   bhsportsguy
140 It makes sense to me that he would opt out, now had the seasons been reversed, no way does he do this but given the lack of bats and the teams looking to add one to their lineup, I could see Boras thinking that why not try the open market, the Dodgers will probably offer arbitration to protect themselves and Drew can go for another 4-5 year deal.

Teams that may go after Drew,
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants
Texas Rangers
Chicago Cubs

2006-11-09 17:47:43
147.   bhsportsguy
145 If we offer arbitration, if he is signed before December 7th, consider it automatic.
2006-11-09 17:49:46
148.   bhsportsguy
142 I am pretty sure the Dodgers knew this was possible but probably thought it was no better than 3-1 that he would opt out.

The $11M per year was probably low considering the current times but the 3 years was probably at the edge of what Ned thought teams were going to offer a player like Drew.

2006-11-09 17:50:48
149.   Uncle Miltie
Jesus...we are really screwed now. Ned will probably replace him with a guy like Reggie Sanders.
2006-11-09 17:54:46
150.   willhite
This may open the door a little wider for Nomah to come back. He could play third. He could play the outfield or he could play first and Loney could move to right.

Although it sounds like the front office was shocked by this, I wonder how they really feel about it. I really think they had very mixed feelings about Drew.

Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2006-11-09 17:57:12
151.   willhite
For those who worry that Ned may trade some of our better prospects, you had better hope he can grab a good free agent outfielder or we may be sending some really good young players to Tampa Bay for Crawford or Toronto for Wells.
2006-11-09 18:01:30
152.   Jon Weisman
New post up top.
2006-11-09 18:03:01
153.   Uncle Miltie
150- that's the problem. I don't want Nomar back. Nomar is 33, his body is breaking down and he's going to demand a 3 year deal. JD Drew was the one guy you could count on to get on base. You could pretty much pencil him for .300/.400/.500. Ned likely won't bring back Drew. I think the Dodgers seriously need to consider trading for Sheffield now because I don't see any other hitters on the market who can replicate Drew's production. We aren't getting Soriano unless Ned wants to spend $17+ million on an average defensive corner outfielder. Carlos Lee is a DH in the making. Drew opting out really complicates the situation because now the Dodgers have even more holes to fill. They now need two big bats and a top of the rotation pitcher. This is going to have a negative impact on our farm system.

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