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I was just LAT'd so I'll take a moment to respond to berkowit28's query on hockey coverage.

I tend to agree with the field. I've always been and always will be an LA Kings fan, although I never did see the Gretzky era. Interestingly enough, I just saw their last game against Montreal, who happens to be really good.

It's hard to get back into a sport, any sport, when you lose an entire season due to a work stoppage. Even baseball's '94 strike didn't wipe out the preseason and most of the regular season.

Finally, I have to admit, the game itself is still pretty good. I saw a game on NBC yesterday that had an exciting finish, and I enjoyed that way more than the college basketball game that was on CBS. So that's where I am with hockey.

As Nelson would say, HAH HAH. Fooey and shame on you, Baseball America. Hee.

I wonder if the Dodgers will ever give Eric Hull a chance.

I thought Colletti gave some decent responses given the circumstances.

I believe Ethier appeared in 153 games last year. However, Kemp is really lighting the fire, so he will not be denied. Not even a yellow caution sign can stop him.

The only exception is Guzman (although the book's not closed on him yet) and Lucas May, I guess. YMMV with Hull and Stults.

Not only does he fail to compare Ethier to Pierre directly, he also fails to mention that Kemp's ABs will be compromised because of JP.

Preki was 9 votes short and Joy Fawcett was 10 votes short.

I was at the game Friday and yesterday... a few observations on those names above...

Martin's pick off on Sunday was impressive. That Adroin was trying to do the same thing Friday but executed it not nearly so well (the play when LaRoche got hurt) underscores Martin's value to this team...

It was a bummer to see Billingsly and Broxton let a few long balls out of the park. But they looked good otherwise.

Delwyn Young's fielding looked great on Friday. I know lots of folks have said he's improved in the infield... I don't really remember what it was before. But he looked good Friday.

Kemp. Man, his bomb was huge. Even more impressive was that it was still so big and it was fighting the wind. For those who have been to holman field, it cleared the entire back grass area and went into the parking lot. Against wind. It looked pretty similar to Pujol's on Friday, except AP had some wind on his side.

then, again to Kershaw. Man, that was seriously impressive. None of the Sox fans around me (of which there were many) had heard of him. But all were impressed. And not just by his curve. His fastball must have some serious heat. He just made the batters look silly. It was the most exciting part of the game. I'd have loved to have seen him for another inning...

anyhow, 3 years on, it's good to see a lot of the prospects delivering according to or above what folks had anticipated. My only fear is that some (Hu, Young) just haven't had the opportunity to move a little more quickly. But I'll try and be patient.

What's even worse is that Colletti will NOT independentally evalute Juan Pierre alone. He spent most of his quote stating how bad the middle of the lineup was, as if they were the reason that Juan Pierre is not good at baseball.

The guy still doesnt "get it". And in a division that has AZ, SD, and Colorado (apparently getting it), its going to kill the Dodgers in the long run.

Player evaluation is a fundamental skill that Ned just doesnt have.

When I first read this I thought it made perfect sense. Upon further reflection not so much. Shouldn't you just play the better player. Plug Nomar and LaRoche or Pierre and Ethier into this statement. Its not like the less productive PVL disappears. They just go to the bench and will either earn a spot with fewer opportunities (like the younger player) or get back by virtue of injury to another player. How can you ever go wrong simply playing the better player.

Amen to that. Now I am depressed.

Also this constant tag line about JP's work ethic is tiresome. Neither Ned nor Joe can mention JP without adding the slogan. Its like a marketing executive who is trying to brand an idea, e.g. Must See TV. 4 out of 5 Dentists Recommend. JP: A Shining Beacon of Work Ethic. As an attorney my income is driven by hours billed. I work my butt off. I have friends who work in the finacial sector who work a lot less and make a lot more. Who is the better earner? Who does a gold digging, B starlet want to be married to (and divorced from in 5 years). Does it matter who works harder?

1. he took Betemit when he was handed him last year and quickly played him at all 4 infield positions even though our management said Betemit could only play 3rd base.

2. he took Delywn Young and quickly moved him back into the infield after our previous management said he could only play the outfield.

3. He has moved Kemp into center field so he can see for himself if Kemp can play the position.

It was great to have a long-held dream realized.

Those of you who keep waiting for Ned to say he made a mistake are barking up the wrong tree. While a player is on the team, why should he beat him down just to appease those who want affirmation? Every quote from Ned will filter back to the players. They all have families and friends who read everything about them.

It is our job to talk about the negative, not the General Managers.

Btw, a nice little tidbit on Kershaw from the Boston perspective, though not really anything new:
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1079143
"The Red Sox got their first look at left-handed Dodgers prospect Clayton Kershaw, who is projected as the team's ace of the future. Kershaw retired the side in order in the fourth inning, finishing his outing with a banana-bending curveball (complete with yellow warning signs) that nearly caused the left-handed-hitting Sean Casey to bend over backward.

"I wish he had a Red Sox [team stats] uniform on," Francona said when asked about Kershaw. "I can see why he's the buzz of spring training. He has phenomenal stuff."

Kershaw almost certainly will open the season in the minors, but that hasn't stopped some Dodgers veterans from lobbying for him to make the club. The 19-year-old has been so impressive that many Dodgers, including Derek Lowe, believe he is ready for the big leagues now..."

And if it's our job, where's my paycheck?!

There are times when you have to dispatch the general rule - usually when the vet is nearing the end of his career (Nomar) or when the kid is head and shoulders better than the vet (Pierre). But as a starting off point, it's not too bad.

Also, I agree with those who say we shouldn't expect the answers we want to hear. If for no other reason, we don't want to depress the trade market for Pierre.

How about them Ray's? David Price's debut got everyone on the East Coast as excited as we were in LA with Clayton.

Playing everday certainly has value.
Playing poorly everyday does not.

The Dodgers are already up 1-0 after Andruw drove in a run.

Derek Lowe's job security with the Dodgers (for 2009) dwindles the faster/better Kershaw performs.

I actually find some of this talk about just paying some of these guys monster bonuses somewhat tiresome because there are times when it just wouldn't have mattered.

The team that Tommy is managing will get its first radio broadcast next Sunday. After that, games are pretty much available on the net, except, and this ironic, the last game in Florida, which will be a week from tomorrrow.

And then I woke up.

Pierre + $18m to Baltimore for B prospect.

Did anyone go to that Nomar/Mia charity game?

Ned: Heck no! Look I was new, Drew left, I panicked, and there he was. I'd trade him in a heartbeat if I could, but it'll cost an arm and leg to trade him.

Kim: Uh, Ned, we'll never trade him if you talk that way.

Ned: Oh yeah. Hmmm. It's constructive to point out where the club was when we signed Juan....

Ned: Heck yeah! Look at his stats. But c'mon guys, I've got McCourt as a boss and now Torre breathing down my neck. Let him decide to bench all that money I spent...

Kim: Uh, Ned....

Ned: Yeah, you're right. Let' see. Andre is developing into a very good player. As Joe and the staff get more acquainted with Andre and others, I'm confident they'll find a way to get a solid amount of at-bats from all the outfielders....

Ich bin ein berliner-armed centerfielder!

"Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, 'rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation'—a struggle against the common enemies of man: benching Juan Pierre."

Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We Dodger fans will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation."

Clayton Kershaw sounds poetic. And heroic.

That is a lot of time in front of the computer

Wtg Daniel! Dang, it will take me three hours to eclipse that.

It's March 10.

Bob, be forewarned, this link leads to a story about Mr. Lute.

http://tinyurl.com/25zh2b

'It was a million to one shot, doc, million to one.' " - Kramer, in "The Fusilli Jerry"

I always thought Frank Costanza said that.

92

It is March 10th, but we're also pretty excited about Bison's great hitting in ST... and of course Kershaw's nasty curve.

91 Have at it. I likely won't play again, so you've got all the time in the world. Hint: never open a repair shop.

...and since I brought up the documentary genre, has anyone seen Darkon before? Just saw it this weekend. Wow, I might have enjoyed that as much as Kershaw's knee-buckler.

100 - I still don't get the anti-repair shop vibe. I've never had a problem with it.

Jon, here's my reasoning for avoiding the Repair Shop:

The repair shop doesn't yield as high of a return as you'd like, considering that cars go into it verrrrrry slowly. If you notice, cars that need the repair shop travel slowly to it and that will bog down the rest of the traffic.

As in life, the Hot Wheels game employs the KISS strategy. Is "KISS" a rule 1 violation?

Then Bob turns into Jon's son if he hasn't had a nap.

About the Pierre at-bat-burglary-in-progress, I feel a lot more comfortable with Torre making the calls and not Little. It seems as if Torre will put the guys out there who he feels are best rather than the ones who are paid the most. Even if it was a mistake, what other coach in the world would bat A-Rod eighth?

Most of the NFL free agency deals announced in the last week or so have all mentioned the total contract AND the guaranteed money, which is the more telling figure (i.e., "So and so signed a 7/$55m contract with $22m guaranteed").

The problem I have had with the repair shop is the same as Logik's, the cars take too long to go around the track. So, if someone comes in needing a repair with four other services, I like to have them go to the repair shop right away, to speed up the rest of the process. But, it is never just one person who needs a repair, they all come at the same time!!!

There has to be a system, because I really hope no one has spend 24 hours in front of the computer.

http://tinyurl.com/33xodc

The Dodgers had two scouts at the Tigers' game Sunday, which of course fueled the Inge speculation. But, isn't it common to have scouts spread all over, especially during spring training?

Aren't there other teams' scouts that could have been at the game too?

Great strategy and one I use for most of the game. As the game goes on, it starts to break down, though. At higher levels, I try to keep a certain number of cars "in the system". If you add too many, they sit around waiting for a shop to become available. If you have too few, you get a lot of unsatisfied customer. They key is to click in a few additional customers at a time, hopefully over to the music shop first.

I think it is hilarious that we're talking strategy about a Hot Wheels game.

Genius on the don't get a repair shop. It is funny that DT is strategizing about it.

I'm with ToyCannon on the Ned must respond "with sensitivity" re: Pierre. I think it was a mistake and one he can't really own up to for various reasons. I don't really have a problem with it, now I will still be aggrivated if he plays but it looks to me that Pierre may be one of the unpredictable events of the season. I hope so.

RE: Andruw; I think that's just timing. My kid is rusty for awhile. And then I need a protective cup.

My question to Colletti would be: Do you think Pierre's lack of productivity stems from his not having had to compete for his playing time?

(In reference to Elliot Spitzer scandal)

Wow!

But the latter required batteries and the former required us only to find cheap sources of potential energy. The top of our tables in our rec room sufficed.

"The fall will be hard and I don't expect many teams to emulate how he ran the Giants into last place over the next decade."

I wonder who I'd have to bribe and suck up to to get on that selections committee.

That would be old friend Chad Kreuter.

For you hockey fans out there, is there a resource as good as Dodger Thoughts, but for Kings hockey?

The insidesocal.com/kings blog is actually pretty good. There's also letsgokings.com, but that is a message board for Kings fan discussions rather than a blog like DT.

zito has given up 10 ER in 5 IP this spring.

Thanks, Samuel. It's rare to have that great combination of information resource and fan discussion. Another reason to be thankful for Dodger Thoughts.