He's of the same ilk as Kemp, Loney, Russell Martin.

That means LaRoche won't make the club out of spring training.

Seriously, these quotes are reassuring though.

That was an awesome interview. I rarely put stock into what a GM says, but he sounded as excited as we do. Thanks for the link.

It is like Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

I fully endorse our new alien overlords.

Someone tell these MNF producers that Led Zeppelin has more than three songs

That was heartening. Combined with the (possibly fake) encounter between Logan Whtie and a Dodgers.com poster linked in the last thread, and I feel much more at ease about this offseason.

At least until we trade for Blalock.

[Kemp] might wind up being a great centerfielder!

-- Ned Colletti

Ned. Colletti. Think about that.

I just checked Blalocks #"s on B-R.com like I suspected there about the same Blalock's OB% is a tiny bit better but that's about it. Overall though I think Beltre has the better glove I would think.

ps Why am I even talking about Blalock if the rumor isn't even true!! :o)

7 If you're that suggestible, you might be great in a hypnotist's show!

Hooray! The Blue Jays will wear powder blue uniforms every Friday home game in 2008.

http://tinyurl.com/2qhrdx

Here's hoping the Cards, Phillies, and other 1980s powder blue wearers will follow suit.

Jerry: Yeah. Like Bizarro Superman. Superman's exact opposite, who lives in the backwards bizarro world. Up is down, down is up. He says "Hello" when he leaves, "Good bye" when he arrives.
Elaine: Shouldn't he say "bad bye"?
Jerry: No, it's still goodbye.
Elaine: Does he live underwater?
Jerry: No.
Elaine: Is he black?
Jerry: Look, just forget the whole thing, all right.

I'm of a mind that Voldem- Colletti isn't so horrible. He threw huge money at Pierre. That was stupid. He gave away Joel Guzman. Also, eventually, that'll look stupid (though not in the same league as Pierre). But take away those two blunders, and Colletti hasn't been horrible. Everybody blasts the Schmidt deal now, but at the time the signing looked reasonable. (I'll reverse my ruling on this if somebody has the goods that Ned shoulda/did know about Schmidt's shoulder.). And, true, Nomar bathed in Hai Karate this year, but he earned a $5 million contract based on his '06 performance. Some of the smaller deals - the backup outfielders in need of walkers, the weird fetish for the weirdly moon headed Ramon Martinez - are the sorts of tics all GMs have but we don't really notice because we don't give a crap. My point is the above quotes are evidence that Ned seems capable of learning, a trait I'd like to acquire before death.

Nice find, very reassuring.

Bart Scott not having a good last few minutes of MNF.

That's not Ned Colletti. I refuse to believe it.

Larry Csonka weeps.

Surely, I can't be alone in thinking that the conversation the Baseball Digest Daily guy had with Colletti sounds more fake than the one the lowly message board poster had with Logan White -- I mean, based on what we THINK we know about Colletti and White.:)

Well that was one crazy football game.

I am sure next weeks Saints vs Falcons on MNF will just be as good.

How do referees define "control" when it comes to catching a pass in the end zone? The ball definitely turned about 45 degrees in Gaffney's hands while he was going out of bounds.

19
Control is in the eye of the beholder.

16
If you don't think it's true then ask yourself:
Why did this guy lie about Colletti? Who benefited? Who has the power to cover it up? Who?

20 - Just like in that Twilight Zone episode.

The Dodgers have asked about Ben Sheets, Brewers GM Doug Melvin confirmed.
Melvin indicated that he was willing to listen to offers. The Brewers want an outfielder and would have to be interested in Matt Kemp. Sheets' price tag shouldn't be quite as high as that of Johan Santana, Erik Bedard or Dan Haren, but he won't come cheap, not with the Brewers aiming for first place next year.
Sheets is a big risk, but is a very solid pitcher when healthy. Still, he hasn't pitched more than 156 innings in each of the last 3 years.

I wonder what it would take to acquire Bill Hall. He would be a good buy low candidate.

Brian Billick might very well get fired for blowing that timeout on 4th down.

4 Seriously. I started muting the intros and the outros. And Don Shula.

Where was "Stairway", man?

24
Rex Ryan the defensive coordinator called it.

wow. this is the best i've felt about colletti since he's been hired. the article made me yell hallelujah in my mind.

19 It turned because the receiver turned it. That's control.

I'm hoping that the football gods have a sense of humor and allow the Dolphins to be the team that ends New England's perfect season. Though, allowing another team to go undefeated while the Dolphins go winless may be just as funny to the football gods.

Latimes has their daily article up.

http://tinyurl.com/2zcaud

The Dodgers want to sign Jones or Rowand to a relatively short deal -- two or three years, according to a major league source.

The Dodgers remain in pursuit of free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. A major league source said the Dodgers have in mind a three-year deal worth upward of $20 million, though the length and value of the contract were said to be "moving."

The Seattle Mariners are believed to have offered the 32-year-old Kuroda a four-year contract worth $44 million. The Arizona Diamondbacks have offered Kuroda a three-year deal.

Our offers don't seem to match the market.

The Seattle Mariners are believed to have offered the 32-year-old Kuroda a four-year contract worth $44 million

Name that tune.

11
Or he's a mutant freak. I forgot about that. Sorry.

When does BA's Dodgers top 10 come out?

33 Dec 4th, I believe.

Ohhh!! Goodie!

Hey, maybe Ned always liked the kids, but had some real schtick about making them earn their jobs by wresting them from veterans--what Loney managed to do. That, combined with his preoccupation with depth, and Grady's inability to manage the playing time issue better might have made him seem more veteran addicted than he actually was. Or maybe Ned has actually learned a thing or two from our disastrous season.

A lot of the PVL nonsense also really was a media thing, which fed off of clubhouse strife.

In this market, 4/44 mil for Kuroda isn't as crazy as I would normally think, but I certainly won't mind Ned passing. After the Pierre fiasco, maybe he's now gunshy about tossing money around in long term contracts.

WWSH

I wonder why HongZhi Guo's name was not mentioned by Colletti regarding possible starting rotation spots. I haven't heard any news that he won't be ready for spring training or that he hasn't healed properly from his injury. I know he has a terrible injury history and shouldn't be counted on for a significant contribution, but the guy has enormous talent when healthy. If you look at the 2008 ZIPS projections for ALL Dodger starting pitchers, Guo has arguably the best rate stats (of course minus the injury/lack of durability thing). This should atleast get a mention from Colletti as being a possible option. vr, Xei

Note that his embrace of the youth isn't combined with a disembrace of the veterans.

What can he say that won't be interpreted as a slap? "Yeah, getting Pierre was a huge mistake, it tanked our season" won't (a) find you trade partners willing to take on his albatross contract, or (b) help you in other negotiations. (If it sounds like I have lost all faith in the ability of [at least, sensible] GM's to say anything meaningful on-record, then you're absolutely right.)

36 Maybe he really thinks Elbert, McDonald, and Kershaw can be ready right away, like he said in this article, and so Kuroda is not really needed beyond 1 or 2 years.

37 - After a season in which two-fifths of the opening week rotation missed half or more of the season, including the team's alleged offseason "ace"-level acquisition, mentioning [GK]uo as a possibility for the rotation is at best impolitic.

Padres seem interested in Mark Prior and/or Josh Towers.

http://tinyurl.com/2ees4n

I don't understand the tampering rules, but isn't it tampering when a GM talks about a player under contract with another club? I guess Towers just talked about talking with Prior in the article, but I guess I don't see where the line in the sand is.

Re: 37

Well, at this point, I think Kuo's injury history is pretty well established--I'm pulling for the guy, but I really doubt he'll be able to survive a season. I'd be more optimistic about Greg Miller learning to throw strikes again at this point, which isn't saying much.

WWSH

41

Prior technically doesn't have a contract yet... He is just under control by the Cubs.

Maybe thats it.

38 - My point was only that just because he was praising the kids doesn't mean the kids will start.

11 - I'm of a mind that Voldem- Colletti isn't so horrible. He threw huge money at Pierre. That was stupid. He gave away Joel Guzman. Also, eventually, that'll look stupid (though not in the same league as Pierre). But take away those two blunders, and Colletti hasn't been horrible.

Actively trading blue-chip prospects for Lance Carter, Danys Baez, Toby Hall, and Mark Hendrickson definitely puts him in the ballpark of awful.

44 - ah, so the George W. Bush trick: he was famous as governor of Texas for praising a program just before he cut its budget.

45 Navarro would have been a nice chip in a Cabrera offer.

45

I don't think they were considered blue chip prospects at the time of their trade.

37 HongZhi Guo's name How many more consonants are you planning to re-map? This is a gradual issue, is it? Your preferred Chinese transliteration system (which we know by now you insist on now matter how many times Hong Chi Kuo indicates he's happy with the alternate outmoded system) keeps changing. I don't recall your demanding "HongZhi" before. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention. Will it change again to "HungZhi" or "HngZhi"? Or "Harold"? "Honest Abe"? Or something else?

28 Thank you. Now I have somewhere to point all the people I've been arguing with for the last hour and a half.

Wow, random use of a Badly Drawn Boy tune in the new Starbucks commercial. Not so much the fact that it's a song of his, but that it's one of the random instrumental tracks from the About a Boy soundtrack.

Steve Phillips is reporting that Jose Guillen is close to signing with the Royals for 3/$36m.

49
I like to think of it as a Xeifrank quirk and see no reason why you feel the need to belittle him for it.

Another Nationals deal, by the way: Tyler Clippard acquired from the Yankees for RH RP Jonathan Albaladejo.

I saw Albaladejo pitch a couple of times last year. He was good. People who pay attention to these things, as in the link, believe this is a good deal for the Nationals.

http://tinyurl.com/2tp7h5

--throws Rule 5 flag at 46 --

--then Bart Scott picks it up and throws it into the stands--

36 - WWSH, is it not good that he is now gun-shy about those though? Like a couple of posts ago asked, does it really matter why there has not been a big $$ signing this winter, if the result is Kemp, Loney, Martin, and it sounds like LaRoche all starting?

Diamond updated his blog..

-no contract offered to jones/rowand, too far apart in years and $$

-contract offered to Kuroda

-Lieberthal, Sweeney and Seanez all remain possibilities to be re-signed.

-and this tidbit...Ned Colletti met with the Arn Tellem, the agent for Nomar Garciaparra. "I didn't have to say anything," Colletti said. "He told me Nomar just wants to know."

huh?

56 Wow, juicy. Am I benched?

45
Blue Chip prospects??? Is this revisionist history? They all had warts, some had big warts. 1 1/2 years later
JtD - still can't hit AAA pitching
Ed Jackson - was the 5th starter for the worse rotation in baseball. Had a decent 2nd half every 3rd game kind of like that Tomko guy that everyone hated.
Navarro - until the 2nd half of 2007 looked like the worse catcher in baseball. If Tampa Bay felt he was the future they wouldnt' be looking for another catcher
Ruggiano - 4th outfielder at best
Pedroza - will probably never even sniff a major league at bat.

Lugo was evidently held in high enough esteem that the brightest team in baseball gave him a multi year multi million dollar deal to play SS for their World Championship team and gave us their number one pick for right to do so.

56
Maybe Nomar wanted to know if he would be the highest-paid bench player in MLB in 2008. Or maybe Nomar just wanted to know that they checks will still cash.

But more importantly, what should I buy my 8-year old niece for Christmas? Her father's suggestion was "beats me."

60
Hannah Montana something.

60

a Nintendo Wii

61
She likely has no idea who that is. My brother has no cable TV and barely any broadcast channels.

62
Everytime you search for a toy on Amazon.com, you get a recommendation to buy a Wii.

The Wii is for drunks not 8 year olds.

Let's all bookmark this thread, and come back when the 2008 starting LFer's name is announced.

And laugh, and laugh, and laugh. . .

63
There's your answer. Buy your brother cable TV. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Buy her some books. No TV means she probably reads a lot.

It will be under my Christmas tree this year. I'm finally splurging on my 1st ever video game system. i hate to be trendy but we had a lot of fun playing it during thanksgiving.

Buy her a shuffle board.

...wait, thats another thing for drunk people. Sorry, I have nothing.

New post from Tony Jackson re: Andruw Jones...

"We are nowhere close to a deal," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "I had the intention of making an offer, but as it stands, it would have been foolish to do so." Colletti left the door open to continue negotiations, but only slightly. "I'm not sure how we would explore it from here when the distance is that great," Colletti said. "Those explorations would probably have to come from the other side."

66
What is so funny about Barry Bonds?

Ned Colletti met with the Arn Tellem, the agent for Nomar Garciaparra. "I didn't have to say anything," Colletti said. "He told me Nomar just wants to know."

huh?

Nomar wanted to know what Ned is getting him for Christmas. Obviously it's a surprise, so Ned isn't going to reveal what his gift is.

Bob:
* High School Musical 2 DVD.
* Spiderwick Chronicles series

If you want more suggestions, email me and I could ask my 8-year-old daughter tomorrow when she's awake.

Also, tell your brother he's a very poor dad if he has no idea what his little girl wants for Christmas.

Kids like yo-yos. Also, this is supposed to be fun, though I'm not sure why: http://tinyurl.com/2blsqt

The best present I ever got was a really great baseball glove, but you'd be typecast for life. My sister loved board games and Babysitter Club Books, when she was that age.

Thanks for the input. I should have this all wrapped up this week.

I'll be sure to tell my brother he's a poor parent. That's always welcome advice from the single guy with no kids.

Sounds about right.

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2007/12/comments.html

This holiday season, care enough to give the gift of fatalism and dread to your loved ones.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Google/?p=813

I'm starting to wonder if a dark horse team like the Royals will make a splash with Andruw Jones....I just don't see us or anyone else offering more than two years.

the logan white thing from the dodgers.com board is a great read... a little TOO great. i mean, who says "email me a copy of your ultrasound!" to a random fan guy they just met an hour earlier?

78 yet another reason why fjm is bloody brilliant.

The Twins are looking over Jon Lester's medical records. Deal might be close...

81 -- People with children say those kinds of things all the time nowadays. I suppose White thought he was being polite by professing to be interested.

84 I remember somebody posted (I think it was) here some time ago about meeting Mr. White on an airplane. The MO seemed about the same, so I really wouldn't be surprised if it were authentic.

82 I don't quite get why they seemed so overwhelmed by the experience.

83

Santana
Beckett
Schilling
Dice-K
Buccholz

That's not fair. Just don't even play next season.

is the Dodgers top 10 out yet?

85 well, it was neat that they were open-minded enough to experiment... but i don't think they were overwhelmed by the quantity. it's just that 95% of the comments were absolute rubbish. fjm is better as a closed forum. you can email the guys if you have a really important point to make and if it's good they'll probably mention it. that way, everything is gold. i don't need another site with hundreds of comments to wade through. i can barely keep up with DT as it is :)

87 Tuesday morning, Nate. Expect to see large Minotaur pictures on BA.com.

86 schilling is on an age precipice though, and wouldn't buchholz be sent to the twins? still, santana and beckett on the same team with manny and ortiz is just not fair.

89

http://tinyurl.com/28vpul

I would laugh so hard...

90

apparently Buccholz isn't eve on the table. Its basically Ellsbury OR Lester, plus trash.

wouldn't buchholz be sent to the twins?

Nope, Lester is going. Buchholz is untouchable from I understand.

92 wow, santana really hurt the twins with his comments, didn't he. forced to trade within their league, for much inferior players. if you're the twins, wouldn't you rather have kershaw and ethier than lester plus filler?

Ned sounds like he has big plans for Elbert. I didn't know he was on the 2008 big league radar.

95 I really feel that the injuries to Elbert and Wolf doomed us as much as any other snafu that occurred last season.

wow, santana really hurt the twins with his comments, didn't he. forced to trade within their league, for much inferior players

That's what they get for giving him a no-trade clause. NTCs are a very bad idea from a team's standpoint.

77 If they have internet try webkinz.

http://www.webkinz.com/

I too was an expert on raising kids before my daughter was born.

84 - We pass out copies of our ultrasounds as Valentine's Day cards. This Christmas, I'm thinking of giving away my appendix to a truly special friend. Maybe Jodie Foster?

47

maybe we could have thrown in Guzman as well.

28
pfft..Pat's fans. -shakes head-

what was up with those refs anyways...terrible...

pfft more Pat's fans me thinks....

its ok though...Steelers gonna take it to them, just like when we broke their 20 something win streak, and just like we stuck it to the colts when they started out 13-0.

95

Upper management was pimping Elbert pretty good in spring training '07 & I think they mentioned if he didn't make it opening day he would definitely be a Sept call up but obviously things didn't pan out.

65 AHAHAHAHAHAHA

too true

Amen!

91
when i put in the link yahoo told me

"site may not exist"

ironic

Get her a Ouija board, and a book of magic and card tricks.

Bob, if your niece hasn't been good this year, send her an Andy Warhol style picture of this:

http://tinyurl.com/ysjtfp

That will make you the mysterious Uncle.

Baseball America will have their Top 10 Dodger Prospects list up before too long. I wonder if I can predict the list. I'll give it a shot:

(01). Kershaw
(02). LaRoche
(03). Hu
(04). McDonald
(05). Bell
(06). Meloan
(07). DeJesus
(08). Elbert
(09). Withrow
(10). DeWitt

92 ESPN has basically become Boston's PR department. When Steve Phillips was on ESPN saying it's one of Ellsbury or Lester with no mention of Bucholz I just wanted to smash my TV. Why cant we start trade rumors off with Eric Stults and declare Kershaw untouchable?

58 Saying Guzman wasn't a blue chip prospect is way more revisionist. He came into the year rated higher than Hanley Ramirez.

Heck, I liked Julio Lugo before he became a Dodger, but Ned knew the guy was hurt and gave up Guzman anyway.

BA List
1. Clayton, Kershaw, lhp
2. Andy LaRoche, 3b
3. Chin-Lung Hu, ss
4. Scott Elbert, lhp
5. Blake DeWitt, 3b
6. Chris Withrow, rhp
7. James McDonald, rhp
8. Jonathan Meloan, rhp
9. Delwyn Young, of
10. Pedro Baez, 3b

111 That's....odd to say the least.

While I am not in love with every move Colletti has made, it is important to realize that G.M. is just a job. Hiring someone who "knows everything" from the start is preferrable, but hiring someone who learns from their mistakes is critical. It seems to me Nedco realizes his knee jerk Pierre signing was probably more an emotional signing than a well thought out one, and that is a good sign. In some ways it is exactly what we would want. He is learning. My hope is that he is growing into the job description. My fear is that he is propping the kids because McCourt is cheap.

113 - I'm less concerned these days that McCourt is cheap than that he is shortsighted.

Canuck, I'm interested as to why you rated DeJesus as high as #7.

110
Not by the time he was traded he wasn't. He wasn't a spring time trade, he was a July trade and by July something was wrong.
The guy who was a blue chip when he was actually traded that I didn't mention was Chuck Tiffany. Of course our opinions may differ on what a blue chip constitues but by the time JtD was dealt his defensive spectrum had moved from SS to 1st base and the holes in his offensive approach were big enough to drive a truck thru. The only thing saving him, was his tender age.
Say what you will but I think the only prospect who has been dealt that Logan White regretted putting in any of the deals was Tiffany and to bad for the Rays's they never got to see him pitch before he blew out his career.

115
He wasn't listing his top 10, he was trying to guess what BA's top 10 would be.

by the time JtD was dealt...the holes in his offensive approach were big enough to drive a truck thru

Meanwhile, a certain centerfielder with the same holes is about to be rewarded with a huge long-term contract, hopefully by someone other than the Dodgers.

113 114 Colletti, we sometimes forget now, is working within a specific context: Grady Little was sent packing a few weeks ago. Like most people, NedCo doesn't want to join him in the unemployment line. I assumed that would mean more big signings and "win now," but in fact it seems to mean that the McCourts want to go with the kids. Why, I don't know. Could be money, could be watching the Rockies win. Whatever the reason, I'm happy about it. But that said, scareduck makes a good point here and on his own site we shouldn't forget: McCourt could easily change his mind all over again if 2008 goes badly. The pressure to "win now" is still there, I suspect.

NedCo doesn't want to join him in the unemployment line. I assumed that would mean more big signings and "win now," but in fact it seems to mean that the McCourts want to go with the kids. Why, I don't know

My guess is that Ned would prefer to make big signings and/or trades, but has been prevented/discouraged from doing so by McCourt, assistants, advisors, etc. I suspect his newfoundlove for the kids is just towing the current party line.

118
Are you talking about the CF with 368 career home runs before the age of 30 who had a lousy 2007 that may or may not have been injury related? Who hit 92 home runs in 2005/2006?

I agree with 98. on the present, webkinz is really the way to go. My 10-year old is obsessed with them. As for not knowing who Hannah Montana is because she doesn't have cable; if her classmates have cable, then she knows who she is and is probably a big fan. My daughter begged for over a year for cable so she could watch that show.

it's toeing the line, not towing.

First I'll get this out of the way.

its ok though...Steelers gonna take it to them, just like when we broke their 20 something win streak, and just like we stuck it to the colts when they started out 13-0.

101

D, you're a very passionate fan and I'm glad to have another fellow Steeler fan on DT, but it is a little unfair to discredit the Patriots 12-0 start, because unlike those other two instances, the Patriots by and large dominated the teams they faced.

The last two games were closer, but that doesn't mean the Steelers are just going to pound them into the ground. My feeling is the Steelers COULD give the Pats a good game, but I'll be hoping for the best!

By the way, I'd hardly call nearly fumbling the ball that got returned for a touchdown at the end of the 2005 AFC divisional game, and then lucking out with Vandy missing the game tying field goal "sticking it to the Colts." Remember I'm a Steeler fan saying this.

---

I just read the FJM comment debacle. I always feel pressure on myself to make good comments, but I wish the guidelines were more definitive. What makes a good commenter or a bad commenter on DT?

121
Probably.

123
Stupid homonyms.

115, 117 -- Yes, I was attempting to predict BA's list, but DeJesus is actually #8 on the latest version of my own list. Why #8 for me? With his good defense at SS, his ability to make contact and hit for decent average, plus his inclination to take walks, I think DeJesus is a "Can't Miss" everyday MLB shortstop in two years, maybe three. Not a high ceiling by any means, but a very "safe" prospect to predict "making it." The only negative is a lack of power, but teams don't DEMAND that from a good defensive SS. "Cesar Izturis with a high OBA" is probably DeJesus's future.

What makes a good commenter or a bad commenter on DT?

The beholder's eye.

Baseball America's Projected 2011 Lineup
Catcher Russell Martin
First Base James Loney
Second Base Tony Abreu
Third Base Adam LaRoche
Shortstop Chin-Lung Hu
Left Field Delwyn Young
Center Field Matt Kemp
Right Field Andre Ethier
No. 1 Starter Clayton Kershaw
No. 2 Starter Chad Billingsley
No. 3 Starter Brad Penny
No. 4 Starter Scott Elbert
No. 5 Starter Derek Lowe
Closer Jonathan Broxton

126
Canuck can you send me your updated rankings. I'd like to add them to my prospect database. Thanks

What makes a good commenter or a bad commenter on DT?

Good commenter - Likes the state of Delaware
Bad commenter - Hates peaches

That would be more like the "Goofus and Gallant" of DT commenters I think.

127

Well, for starters, I know not to violate Rule 13. If I do that, I'm already half way there.

I also like to avoid writing responses that are incomplete sentences, especially clauses that begin with a preposition.

Kershaw tidbit from BA scouting report.

Strengths: Kershaw pitches off a fastball that rests comfortably at 93-94 mph. He touched 99 a handful of times last summer, including once with Los Angeles general manager Ned Colletti in the stands (the Great Lakes scoreboard posted a reading of 101 on the pitch).

128 Looks good to me.

If only...

So I guess Baez is the one sort of surprise on that list? Or did most of you have him in the top 10 already? And Elbert being on the list again isn't a surprise to me, but maybe being as high as he is...

Also, look out Juan Pierre: "Fastest Baserunner Jovanny Rosario"

Who? Jovanny Rosario.

Chat with BA's Alan Matthews at 10AM!

I'll be too busy creating a newsletter that hardly anyone reads to participate, but have at it!

129 -- I am probably going to rework my rankings a bit after the BA chat today. I won't agree with the BA writer about everything, but I always say my rankings are subject to change when I get new information, and the BA writer certainly has access to information that mere mortals like me do not.

McDonald Tidbit from BA scouting report.

Strengths: McDonald has above-average command of three average to plus offerings. His 11-to-5, 69-74 mph curveball is the best in the system, and he has the feel to throw it in any count. His 87-93 mph fastball plays up because of deception in his delivery and his ability to add and subtract velocity.

Bob,

Get her a child size slanket (blanket with sleeves)

Could this be why Meloan is not being talking up as a bullpen guy?

The Dodgers have been pleased with his resiliency, and they've discussed moving him back to the rotation if he returns to Triple-A.

And a final teaser on the only 2007 International signing of note, Pedro Baez.

Strengths: Baez is an excellent athlete with the basic instincts for the game. He has four tools that could grade as future pluses, with his power, arm and defense projecting as well-above-average for some scouts. He has a fluid swing with good bat speed and the early signs of barrel awareness. He can launch towering blasts when he squares up pitches. He's a confident, adroit defender with good actions and body control. He has good range to both sides. Dodgers assistant GM Logan White clocked his throws across the diamond as high as 94 mph.

how about a tidbit from Withrow from BA??

The Royals signed Jose Guillen, so I think they're no longer a dark horse in the Andruw Jones derby.

And Jose Guillen got 3 years and $36 million.

142 = The $GDP of Ecuador.

143
Actually that's around $32 billion.

So that would put Andruw around 3 years for $50 million if that was the length we wanted to go.

Guillen:
31 years old
Career .274/.325/.447 101 OPS+
$12 million/year MLB contract

Unspecified Korean first baseman:
28 years old
Career: .240/.349/.437 106+
No MLB contract

143
I should really get you a subscription to some collections of IMF statistics. They make great reading on a cold winter's night.

145 If Jose Guillen gets three years, Andruw Jones is getting way more than that.

128 Interesting that BA projects Adam LaRoche to be our third baseman in 2011 (and that's not TC's typo, it's straight from the BA site).

121 Yes, that certain center fielder has put up big numbers in the past. His last year may or may not have been an aberration but any GM who assumes he'll revert to his previous form by rewarding him with a contract the bests Hunter is foolish. He deserves a one year, make-good contract. Boras can toe the line about his stats all he wants but contracts should be based on what he may do for you in the future. Right now Jones doesn't look solid or consistent. Buyer beware.

147- That reminds me, the New York branch of the Federal Reserve publishes comic books. They would make a super-fun (and educational!) Christmas present. Plus, they're free!

http://www.ny.frb.org/publications/result.cfm?comics=1

144/147 - I really should learn to use the internets for research. Well, my point is... man, Jose Guillen, makes that much? People are starving! Etc.

And thanks. I did just finish all 800+ pages of the last Harry Potter book so I'm looking for something new. That'll cure my insomnia right up.

152
Try the Dark Materials trilogy, you'll like it unless fighting heaven gives you the willies.

I hate to draw attention to my own stuff, but I'm trying to get a community top 30 prospects list going again. Vote for your favorite prospects at True Blue LA.

http://www.truebluela.com/story/2007/12/4/115845/909

154 -- Regfairfield, when, exactly, did you and ToyCannon forge the conspiracy to change "Cory" Wade's name to "Corey" Wade?

155 I prefer the dreamboat spelling.

156 -- Okay, I have no idea what you mean.

155
Wait until I butcher Daigoro or Dequam LaWesley Wright.

NPUT

158 -- Have you submitted any questions to BA? I asked five. I have had questions answered in the last couple of Dodger chats. Last year I asked about McDonald and Matthews said that McDonlad had a "slow arm" and not enough stuff.

146
Since the age of 27 Jose Guillen has been a good player. He had a bad year in 2006 but bounced back nicely with Seattle last year.
OPS+ numbers of 142, 121, 116, 75, 116.
He was rushed to the majors by the Pirates and suffered for it but finally got straightened out.
I guess you could use his career OPS+ to make you point but it doesn't seem fair to use a career OPS+ player on someone who flailed for 5 years and then got it together for 5 years. What he did from age 21-26 really has no bearing on his worth.