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Leaving Las Vegas…
Heading to the airport shortly so this will be brief. First and foremost, congrats to all of you on making Inside the Dodgers the No. 3 blog out of the Top 100 on the MLBlogs network. That's very cool and as you'll see, the top two are league-wide blogs that have 30 or so people writing them with constant breaking news and rumors. The community that has been built here continues to amaze me and you guys should continue to keep it up and tell your friends about ITD. The way we communicate with our fans continues to change every day and we're definitely on to something here.
Also, I want to make sure everyone remembers that it's a long offseason and that we are far from a finished product. And to be honest, as we learned last year, the team that you go to Spring Training with is hardly a finished product either. Manny, Blake, Maddux, Berroa, and many others never set foot in Vero Beach. It's also important to remember, just because someone's name appears in a media report doesn't mean that we're seriously going after them.
I'm not in baseball operations and obviously even if I was calling the shots, I wouldn't be able to publicly tell you who we are or aren't targeting – that's not my role. But just remember how many different people have agendas during the winter. The Dodgers, their opposing teams, the agents, various players…you name it. Try to keep that in perspective while the Hot Stove League burns. I personally think that adding Casey Blake and Mark Loretta are two significant pieces of the puzzle, but that doesn't mean we're done putting the team together.
I'm sure I'll have plenty more thoughts as the team continues to take shape but for now, I have to hit the craps table…I mean, the airport. (Honestly, I'm heading home soon).
No Comments
Josh, yeah, everyone has an agenda. One entity with an agenda is definitely the Media. It seems like Ken Rosenthal prints anything he hears, like he's trying to stir the pot to see what rises and what sets.
Is there any chance we can bring back the Blue Crew name for the fan club? Jr. Dodgers isn't as orginal, the Giants already have the Jr. Giants (which is sad to see a Dodger tradition die and be replaced by a copy of how the 1954 World Champion Giants do business), and the crest has a big JD on it, which reminds me of two things, Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey, and our Old No. 7, J.D. Drew.
The Blue Crew was unique to our organization, and by changing the name to the Jr. Dodgers, not only are we copying another organization, we're copying OUR HATED RIVAL ORGANIZATION. I'm sure everyone knows how much Dodger Tradition means to the fans, especially after so much of it was lost during the FOX regime.
Please, BRING BACK THE BLUE CREW!!!
Damn, two days in a row I get new treaded… Here it is AGAIN.
The original song is quite apropos. Howard Jones – No One Is To Blame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm5siz_28o0
You can look at free agents that you just won't sign
You can get you a vet'ran that you hope will work out fine
You can get you a towel, but you'll pay 90 bucks
You can still be a rooter, but you know that your team sucks
We want Manny, we want Furcal
We want everyone
We want Hudson, we want CC
Ned-Co, Ned-Co, NedCo always is to blame
You can build a green girdle but you can't fit in it
You can spend forty million but all you get is Schmidt
Some got the tools and will pay any cost
But with these Three Stooges you know all hope is lost
We want AJ, we want Tex too
We want everyone
We want Benny, we want Ollie
Ned-Co, Ned-Co, NedCo always is to blame
You can see the pennant, but you can't reach it
Need the last piece of that puzzle, but you just can't make a fit
Frankie say he want to win, but he don't make any gains
Aspirations in the clouds but your hopes go down the drain
We want Brian, we want Johnny
We want everyone
We want Randy, we want Richie
Ned-Co, Ned-Co, NedCo always is to blame
NedCo always is to blame
NedCo always is to blame
Artist: The Ho-Hummers
CD: Vast Disappointment
©NedCo Broken Records 2008
NedCo – Nobody does it like NedCo.™
I'm sure I'm not one of your favorites Josh, but thank you for your work on this blog (and for not kicking me off!!)
Thanks Josh for the updates, and yeah to ITD!!!!!!
We do have a unique, fun and family-like community on here, and it is great!!!! People think I am crazy at times for talking about ITD so much, but until they experience it, they don't know what they are missing.
I would also like to reiterate what northstateblues said about the changing the name of the Blue Crew Club to the Junior Dodgers. I live in gnat country, and it just seems like we are taking a boring idea and making it our own.
enchanted ~ you brought us back into the 80's – fabulous song!!!!! both yours and HoJo's ……whiskey for you 🙂
Thanks Josh. Just pass along what we all want: BRING BACK THE BLUE CREW!!!!!!!!!!!
Great job as usual Mr. Enchanted!
Thank you Nells – always liked that song. To answer your question from the last thread, I've no idea why I can't get Old Grandad here. They do have some nasty generic whiskey and tequila around here though that I think comes in drums marked Kemtone on the sides before they bottle it.
Speaking of HoJo (kinda), does anyone remember a restaurant chain called Hobo Jos? Usually were in connection with Vagabond Motels.
I don't remember 'em, E, but here's something I found on Google Images, this the guy you're talking about?
Vaguely familiar NS. The one I mainly remember was in Bishop. I think the motel is still there, but the restaurant beside it is now Denny's. Been that for years and it was probably something else in between. I'm talking 70's when I was a teenager.
Colletti waiting on Manny
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Ned Colletti is prepared to wait out Manny Ramirez.
"This is like watching the San Andreas Fault," the Dodgers general manager said Thursday on the final day of the winter meetings. "Some days you can see it move probably, and other days it's going to sit there. And in a week or two it may move a lot. It's a slow process. It speeds up and it slows back down."
Full article: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3763241&type=story
Missed this yesterday in the ESPN blog, but guess who might be coming back to the NL West?:
Red Sox, D-Backs talking Lugo-Byrnes swap
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Posted by Steve Phillips
The Red Sox are having discussions with the Diamondbacks about a Julio Lugo-for-Eric Byrnes swap. Byrnes would serve as a fourth outfielder for Boston; Lugo would play second base for the Diamondbacks.
If this happens, let's start a pool on how long it'll be til Little Lugo whines that he isn't playing SS.
If nothing else, throwing at that little crybaby would give Bills good practice for hitting Victorino (anywhere BUT the ribs).
yeah, no love lost here
Isn't Burnes better than a 4th outfielder?
Another meeting – ugh!! 3rd meeting this week. Be back in a bit 🙂
Josh- thank you for the updates. True, the team will change throughout the course of the season, but it's also good to know that we will have all of our positions covered by the time CamelBack Ranch opens!!
NSB!! good afternoon pop star friend. It's strange, because I cannot remember if I was part of the Blew Crew or not. I now I wanted to be in it, but not sure if it ever happened. I am not good with long term memory.
Hi PopLegend! Yeah, living 2 hours away from the stadium (before the 210 extended to the I-15), we didn't make a lot of games (3 games tops a year), but one thing my parents made sure of was that we were always in the Blue Crew.
They used to have a Koala Bear as its mascot for a couple of years during the 80's, it was on the hats, shirts, posters, and even a Koala Blue Crew Plushie (Note to Dodgers Marketing, want to make money, BRING THESE BACK!!).
Hope you're doing well, over here we're about to head to the Post Office in a bit to send some stuff we sold on eBay. Selling stuff on eBay has saved our holiday season the last few years, heheh.
NSB- I remember the Koala bear mascot. If I wasn't a member, I'm sure my brothers were. But then again, I'd want to be included as well. Hmm.. I'll have to ask my dad about that one.
The 210 and 15 connected my freshmen year of college in Riverside. I love living 9 miles away from the stadium now 🙂 it's like a dream come true!!! Have fun collecting other people's money 🙂 Love the Dodgers!
While the Mets picked up the top closer on the market and traded for another all star closer, Ned was busy berating Saito and arguing whether to pay him $1.5 or 3 million. Way to get things done, Ned. His disrespectful comment on whether they would resign Saito: "When we needed him last year to pitch he couldn't pitch." Classy guy that Ned.
Josh, congrats on making the MLBlogs Top 100 list!
Hi all – sorry about the hit-and-run comment….
As important, dodgereric's "Dodger lyrics" blog made the top 100 fan blogs, at number 90. Congratulations dodgereric and the songwriters!
And the Yankees, uh, inhale strongly with their mouth.
Oh link to the mlblogosphere blog entry:
oldfogey/westernmost/porklinks – Wow!!! It is soooooo good to see you on here again!!!!
Ward Dear………FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!! and all who contributed to Dodgerlyrics………………FANTASTIC!!!!!!
Hey porkylinks! How ya been??
Congratulations dodgereric #90 woo-hoo!!
enchanted – you are a HUGE part of that #90. You, dodgereric and jhall were the reason the whole thing got started. So, I think congrats should go out to all three of you, with a extra special thanks to Eric for starting Dodgerlyrics – a place to put all of our songs, etc.
We're #3! Woohoo!. And Dre did pretty well too. Dodgereric at #90 is impressive as well. Did anyone notice a Giants blog anywhere on the list other than the AFL blog at the bottom?
Yeah, congrats Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And congrats to Josh and ITD for being the top-rated team blog!!!!!!
While I think it is fair to point out that many players that finished with the Dodgers did not start out with the Dodgers last year, let's take a harder look at Josh's list to determine how they got here and/or their impact:
Manny: without question, the most impact of the above mentioned. However, if Frank and Ned think that another team is going to drop a future HOFer who can still rake into our laps again and pay his entire salary, they are smoking the good stuff. Needless to say, that was one of those once in a blue moon events that will not likely repeat itself in the near future.
Blake: we gave up a switching hitting catching prospect with tremendous upside and a legitimate bullpen arm (boy, don't those sound like two areas where we could use the help) for a 36-year-old who hit .271 for the year and who is a wooden indian at 3B. Casey seems like a great guy and all, but if Frank wouldn't have insisted on his $2 million being paid by the Indians, it would've cost us a ton less. This move is not something to brag about.
Maddux: great pitcher back, a long time ago! 2 wins in exchange for 2 mid-level propects. A wash, I guess…
Berroa: uh, if we consider a .230 a great pickup, then start calling us the Pirates. He isn't even a major league average player. He got hot for a bit, but his numbers show exactly what he is (not very good).
So, sans Manny, the majority of the success goes to the guys that were in Vero Beach last year with the team (and China too – that was a joke), so I am tired of the Dodgers using that agrument as an excuse for being so indecisive.
Are the Dodgers being indecisive or cautious? I said a while ago that this time of year for players fans and teams is like playing chicken or waiting to see who blinks first. In reality, it is clear the Dodgers are watching the purse strings very carefully. If the Dodgers can sign Manny to a contract that makes sense then by all means do it. As much as I would like to see Furcal on this team I don't think it makes sense to give him a guaranteed deal for 4 years. If some other team is willing to take that chance, so be it.
If I'm really being fair, I can't fault Ned for the two moves he's made and for the three he didn't:
Blake – would've rather he'd gone after Hudson and moved DeWitt back to third, but as far as FA third basemen available, Blake's about the cream of the crop.
Loretta – Nomar without the brittleness at a sixth the cost.
CC – I don't think any of us wanted 7 years and $161 mil worth of CC.
Manny – two years and an option for a third is fair – do we really want Manny for 4 or 5 years at his age?
Ferk – I don't think anyone on here ever said anything other than they'd give a year or two incentive laden contract with his injury history.
As for Saito, how can you tender a 39 year old that has elbow ligament damage to a contract? I loved Sammy Says, but Saito's strictly an NRI now.
lbirken – good points on the fact that they are being cautious. However, it doesn't make up for the fact that the entire organization toots their horn over and over again about the in-season pickups. The in-season pickups were either lucky (Manny), questionable (Maddux), shortsighted (Blake) or just plain bad (Berroa). I don't think that the Dodgers should be going into next year with the mindset that someone else is going to drop a masher into our laps for free next year or that we will overpay for some old dude if the team picks up his salary to compensate for the fact that the team was constructed poorly in ST.
clhuerth, I will grant you the "tooting their horn" criticism of the organization. There are quite a few folks on this blog who feel the same way you do. At times it does appear the Dodgers don't think the fans are very smart. On the other hand, I think it is silly to think you will ever hear a Dodger GM or owner come out and admit they made a mistake by signing a certain player or negotiating a specific contract. If you think about it, some of the comments attributed recently to Ned about the Saito and Furcal situations are downright refreshing compared to what we usually hear.
Number 3, It sounds like we're #1, since the top two seem to be in a different dimension.
All in all it's been a good winter, we haven't lost a player yet to another team, if you don't count Maddox and 3 kids in the Rule 5 draft.
I'm glad we maintained Blake and added on Loretta, but if we won't commit more years to Manny and Raffy, why not let them have the money?
It doesn't look good with Saito but we just have to wait until tomorrow.
I guess the team doesn't want the other 5 to accept arbitration, since they gave them ones they might refuse.
Good evening/night ITD ~ Congratulations Dodgereric and all of you musically inclined ITDers. And lbirken, clhuerth and encanted for some very important facts about our team. We are really a very smart group of fans who know our baseball and that is a fantastic thing.
Congrats Eric & all you song writers!!
Also congrats to Josh and thanks for leading us in this blog. I know sometimes you probably want to strangle us but I hope that most of the time you enjoy reading our posts as much as we enjoy reading yours!
I'm aware that there are rumors and leaked mis-information out there, but I would think that we would of been interested in CC just enough to make some sort of an offer.
We lost our #1  pitchers this year. That is a hole that needs to be filled and to not even offer CC isn't showing me a plan.
Not having a plan I think is our biggest failure in the present as well as the past. Everything just seems to be a reaction to others moves.
If you ask me we should be the ones forcing other teams moves.
Dcollins ~ I agree with you about forcing other teams to make moves. I thought we were powerful and rich enough to do just that. ESPN, however, thinks we don't have the finances to pursue these high priced players. I strongly disagree! I just don't think Frank wants to spend it!
Josh Rawitch's Inside the Dodgers and Bryan Hoch's Bombers Beat were near the top on the strength of extremely active communities of commenters.
The above came from the mlblogsphere opening remarks. We are being referred to as extremely active, but I think they forgot….extremely active communities of commenters "who are somewhat insane."
It was great to see Andre sitting at #18 for being one of the new kids on the block in terms of his "Dining with Dre" – Congrats Andre on a job well done. I expect to see him at the top by the end of next year.
Good Evening ITD readers and writers!!!
How is everyone tonight?
Only #90?
Good Evening Ward Dear……… hey, it's a start – Top 10 next year for sure. We have goals you know 🙂 How are you this evening? You are famous now – lol.
Famous! LOL! Infamous maybe!
Considering we don't do any commenting over there, just making the list is pretty cool. It's obviously all of us and enchanted in particular. Without his 100+ songs, we probably fall short of the top 100.
I'd be curious to see how many hits our site gets.
I'm fine. Just back from another tough hockey night. Now I'm watching the pros. The Kings/Blues.
poor babies lost again – awwww!!! I am sorry 😦 I know, 16 year old boys being called babies, but the effect had to be there for the awwwww part. LOL!!!! So, are the Kings winning?
enchanted is pretty incredible – an amazingly creative mind no doubt.
Yeah, a typical game for us. We get outshot so badly nearly every game. I don't keep track, but I'd bet that the other team usually gets more goals on us than we get just shots. The puck is probably in our end 80% of the game. We're just in too high of a league for our abilities. Matt gets so frustrated. He wants to win so badly and we have no chance right now.
The Kings are up 4-1 midway thru the 3rd.
Oops. 4-2.
I would think that would be a little frustrating considering Matt IS the goalie. We had a volleyball season like that where nothing went right, and you feel helpless as a parent.
I am glad your Kings are winning, however 🙂
5-2! 7 minutes left.
They're all trying their best, they're just
Thanks for the updates. We don't get the Sharks instead. I am listening to music and drinking tea.
We get the Sharks instead – sorry 🙂
They're all trying their best, they're just out of their league. Constant out-numbered attacks will get your goat.
We do have another goalie now. He's the coach's son. He played the last period tonight but he didn't have any better luck than Matt. They've combined two teams as poor grades have decreased the rosters.
Well, with the opposing team being on offense 80% of the time, that is bound to tire out any goalie. Grades, grades, grades……the same thing happens in baseball, especially because they think because they don't start until February they can coast the 2nd quarter, which is never the case. Michael's been pretty good about it, but the coach also keeps after him as well.
San Jose has gotten off to a pretty good start. They've got a fine club there.
When my mom was living up in San Leandro, we went to a California Golden Seals game in Oakland. That was a while ago.
The Kings are getting better. Lord knows they've got nowhere to go but up.
Final score: Kings 6 Blues 2
So what does Michael do in the winter months? Does he rest his arm or work it out?
He has been doing bullpens this whole time (once a week), plus batting lessons, and then the camp in Sac last weekend. They have a month or so now where they can work out as a club team through AAU. So, he is working out with the highschool team. He is doing 6 bullpens during the winter break, and then when they get back they can workout for another two or three weeks,and then it's a dead period until February 1st.
I don't follow much hockey, but I have had many students in the past who have followed both the Kings and the Sharks. Alot of that has to do with where we live. There isn't even a ice skating rink here, so roller hockey is the only thing kids can get involved in unless they are willing to drive to Fresno to do it. I did have a student who's grandfather owned the local skating rink, and he is a huge Sharks fan. He is an excellent roller hockey player as a third grader so I would assume when the time comes, he will be driving to Fresno.
He sounds busy! Kids these days! Matt has hockey 3 times a week, Scouts are always doing stuff, now he wants to join the golf team. They've been making snow in our local mountains and he's going up there Saturday to snowboard……….
Matt seems a little busier than my two. Mariya's club volleyball is just starting so practices are twice a week and tournaments on some weekends starting after the holidays. Michael's practices are right after school, and if it's a batting or pitching lesson, then it takes place down at the academy now.
They have been making snow….. 🙂 Do you snowboard too?
Golf, huh? Well, that would be kind of fun, yes?
How is Chris' second week going so far? any better?
That's so cool that you guys have the academy!
I've never boarded. I've done a little skiing here and there.
You could say it didn't get better. They've agreed to "part ways". It seems that her boss mis-read her resume and thought she was qualified to actually manage portfolios. He went on vacation right after hiring her and she spent two weeks trying to figure out what she was supposed to be doing and no one was helping her out. Weird place, huh?
Well, if nobody is willing to help you out, that's seems like a big red flag right there, yes? I am sorry Eric. I know how much she wanted this to work out. She's been on my prayer list and will remain there.
As far as the academy, Bill found out today that the fire department wants him to put in a sprinkler system. Yep, this building is a huge cement building that used to be an auto dealership with a huge gargage in the back. Now, you would think with all the flamable materials in a car dealership/garage, this would have had to be done when they were in the building, which they have been there since I have been in existence up until this last year when they built their own. The owner of the building has agreed to pay for it, but still………just one more thing to add to the red tape before we officially open.
As far as the snow, I don't do snow too much. I have been sledding when I was a kid, but that has been the extent of it. My kids have been a few times with their youth group at church. It gets expensive unless it is something you do often enough to invest in all the equipment and of course the wardrobe.
Thanks for the prayers. They absolutely help, of that I have no doubt. She'll get something. At least we're not out a ton of money.
I'm absolutely no expert in the fire-suppression code area. But I wouldn't want to be dumping a lot of water on a gasoline or oil fire. That could be the reason.
Hey north, if you're around somewhere, I've finally gotten off my butt and added links on our #90 site. Yours is one of them. I hope that's cool with you.
You are very welcome 🙂
As for the sprinklers now that you put it that way. I guess I wouldn't want that happening either – LOL!!! It's nothing too major, just another minor set back. We are still signing people up, we just can't publically advertise until we are cleared of all permits and such and become an official business according to the city of Merced.
That is very cool that Dodgerlyrics made the list, Eric. And then when Josh changed the thread and told us ITD made number 3, I actually cheered in class. My class thought I had lost my mind, which in some cases is true – LOL!!!
….finally gotten off your butt? You are probably one of the most busiest people I know. …and remember, you are talking to northstateblues, the king of prograstination as he states himself.
Hey, do you want me to put a link to your academy on there?
I was just over there, and the links are great Eric. I have been on all of them at one time or another.
Grambo still makes me laugh – LOL!!!!
THAT is very cool Ward Dear…..thank you 🙂
OK, it's on there! It's great to be in charge of something!
If you (or anyone else, for that matter) can think of other links that need to be on there, let me know. Ol' ballhawk need not apply. 🙂
I like Grambo myself. I went to put my own shot in there once and couldn't bear to replace him. He really does symbolize it well.
I think it signifies us never willing to give up fighting for this Dodger Organization, and what should be happening, in good times and bad 🙂
The blog looks great Eric – just fabulous!!!! I like all the comments underneath the links -very clever 🙂
It looks like we are going to non-tender Saito and go after Trevor Hoffman. In the starting front we have Randy Johnson out there, and the way the Yankees are being so aggressive, Pettite might be the odd man out in NY.
I always assumed that Manny was only going to be a Dodger for those last few months of the season so I don't have a problem with him leaving. The fact is, the Dodger way has always been pitching and defense–defense is so undervalued, in fact the people at fangraphs.com have been doing some great pieces about that–its time we focus on having an excellent outfield defense and that means moving Ethier and Kemp to their natural positions; Ethier at LF & Kemp at RF. We need to have a real center fielder, its the reason I liked the Andruw Jones signing at the time, its why I thought the Juan Pierre signing was absolutely stupid when that was signed no matter what the length and/or money figure was (you can imagine how I felt when that information caught my eye), its why I always liked Repko, and the reason I was intrigued when Melky Cabrera's name popped up in rumors about a Kemp-for-Cano trade (a straight up one-for-one trade is a mistake, if it happens we should get more, not saying I want it to happen). Whatever the answer, we need a real center fielder.
p.s. here is a piece on James McDonald
Has anybody else wondered, what if Manny doesn't get the contract he was wishing for and has to settle for a lesser deal with us and then goes into his Manny-being-Manny crap-o-la act as payback, yes he is that immature.
Let's say he signs a two year deal with us, does what he does production-wise in his first year, and then goes into his act the second year, with the ultimatum that we give him a new deal or Boras orchestrates a trade to an A.L. team where Manny can get an extension and be a DH to end his career. We all know that whatever contract Manny signs will have no-trade clause protection, so he will have the leverage. He can be a big enough distraction that he turns us into the 2008 Red Sox and we end up just giving him away.
For the love of God somebody talk me down.
On a personal note, I just received a letter from the American Red Cross asking me to give blood one last time before the year is through. This has been my first year as blood donor and it really make feel good about yourself, if anybody here in the Dodger family has the time, please give it a shot. socalredcross.org / 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
Quick and painless. Promise, first and only time I'll mention this.
Morning ITDlanders!!
Og – Can't talk you down because I can't fault your logic on Manny. I think we all know that sometime, somewhere, somehow, Manny being Manny will rear its ugly head.
Good morning Enchanted. Speaking of Manny, I guess he's a little depressed that he wasn't offered a long term contract. So upset, that he is thinking of hanging it up…….yea, sure! Asked what he is doing with his time he said, "Working out and watching cartoons". So, that being the case, as soon as Texeira decides where he wants his talents to go, Manny will sign for a big money, short term deal.
Yeah Tru, I'm sure he'll hang 'em up when there's $45-60 million on the table (not that the $160 million he just got done earning won't hold him over.)
Good Morning enchanted and trublu!!!
I read og's comments last night before heading to bed, and what og says can easily happen in terms of Manny. That concept of Manny being Manny will always be in the back of most Dodger fans' minds. It's not really a question of "if" it is going to happen, it's "when" is it going to happen. Og just pointed out that it could happen sooner rather than later.
If Texeira doesn't go back to the Angels, they are the only team showing an interest in Manny, then I think the bidding will be between us and them. I did hear the Nationals may be interested in Manny but, they really want to build their franchise around Mark.
I think that is why a 2 or 3 year maximum deal is all Manny will get……..even we are willing to go 3 years, according to ESPN.
Where are the Natators coming up with $160 million to even bid on Tex? Not that anybody's woth that kind of money and contract, but that alone should bring shame to Frank's organization when even the lowly Nats can bid on a premier FA.
Honestly, Manny should go to the Angels where he can live out his days as a DH.
Enchanted ~ I don't know where they are coming up with the money but, they really want him. By the way, are there any baseball players not represented by Boras? It seems like all the big bucks come to his players. I don't think Mike would want Manny to be an Angel.
So, if they have a choice in agents, wouldn't you say that the players that are with him, might possibly be primarily in this
for the money? I don't fault them because if I were in that situation, I am not sure what I would do.
Scott Boras = Money & only money!
Scott Boras = Long term contracts & MONEY!!!
manny being manny:
he's SO depressed over the lack of interest in him that he might consider retiring.. what a loser~
he's so lame and desperate to get attention that he would make up a silly rumor no one would ever believe..
Let's see….$45 million for two years or retire??????????????????? Yep, I'd retire, too!
article from the homepage about the youth movement.. hopefully they really do trust to turn things over to the kids:
Otherwise, management is convinced that the Dodgers' success in 2009 will rest on the play of the Russell Martins and Matt Kemps and Andre Ethiers and Clayton Kershaws, etc. And rather than guess which young player won't take the next step, the general approach will be to let the kids keep playing and make moves where needed as the season goes along.
haha kpookiemon.. clearly you don't value yourself as much as manny does.. 45 mil is unacceptable!!
LMAO Kpookie!!!! Needed that for the gloomy day we have here! I'd give anything to see the sun!
btw, anyone who is familiar with LA. the 101 freeway was completely shut down between the 110 and the 10 because the police are investigating a shooting.. just commenting on how horrific that is for everyone's commute..
Kahli – if only we could make 45 million in two years 🙂 That would certainly change the teaching profession, wouldn't it?
$45 mil on the table and Manny will walk away? – that's what $4-4.5 to Borass? One thing's for certain – Manny's not walking away.
LMAO!!! you think?
this is interesting..
The Dodgers have had internal discussions about extending their contract offer to Manny Ramirez to three years. Los Angeles made Ramirez a two-year offer early in the offseason but it was dismissed by agent Scott Boras.
Ramirez has expanded his offseason workouts at Athletes Performance Institute, from two months last year to three this winter. — Ed Price
note the part that says "it was dismissed by agent Scott Boras".. does that mean that Boras doesn't even ask his players? he just makes decisions and does whatever without considering their thoughts? i mean, i'm sure manny wanted to dismiss it too.. just wondering if he was even actually consulted..
What Borass thinks he and his client is above is, 1. the bad economy. 2. Bonds was on steroids. As far as we know Manny is not, hence we can expect normal decliines each sucessive year. 3. Manny's a headliner, but he's not the franchise like Bonds was. 4. He can't field his position and never could. That doesn't translate well in the NL.
Manny in the NL, in addition to the games he misses resting or being Manny, he'd also be replaced defensively late in games and miss ABs there as well. So any NL team isn't paying for Manny, they're paying for 85-90% of Manny.
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has been creative with coming up with an incentive-laden deal to try to bring back Rafael Furcal. Now he'd like Furcal and his agent to appreciate the creativity of the offer.
"It's going to take more creativity and on their part more willingness to accept creativity," Colletti said. "If they can't accept creativity, probably we'll move on to somebody else."
"Our desire is Furcal, but he needs to be creative for our perspective. If they don't need or don't want to be creative, it's probably not going to happen."
wait.. so he's trying to be creative? can you say creativity? how many times can you say creavitity in one statement? i guess it takes creativity to say creativity that many times..
Very good assessment, Enchanted. I still think Frank and Ned feel they have to get him, though.
Class – the word for today is CREATIVITY. Neddy, can you use that in a sentence?
Very creative, Sara! LMAO!!!!
seriously, he said creativity 3 times, and creative 2 times in like two sentences.. that takes talent!
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt became involved in courting pitcher CC Sabathia before he was lost to the Yankees. McCourt spoke to Sabathia by phone, the last time about 10 days ago, but the team never offered a contract. "We weren't going seven years, six years, five years, four years," GM Ned Colletti said. "We were interested in the person and the talent, but not in the duration. Much like Manny."
THEY WEREN'T EVEN GOING TO OFFER 4 YEARS?? how could they have even considered "courting" CC?
They were going to be "CREATIVE", Sara!
Not that Manny wouldn't help the young guys by taking pressure off of them like he did last season, but this is where NedCo always makes their mistake. If you're going youth, then get a younger but established stud to build around like the Nats want to do with Tex. Holliday? Wright? Whomever. Not a transient vet that comes and goes in a couple years.
It takes a lot of CREATIVITY to sign injured ballplayers.
Sara – I think that's the first time I've ever heard the word "talent" associated with Ned in a good way. Congratulations!!
good use of the word of the day trublu!
I think getting Holliday would be very CREATIVE, indeed. I don't think for a moment that he is going to stay an "A".
well yes enchanted.. since he's terrible at all other aspects.. he might as well become a wordsmith.. clearly, he needs to eat a thesaurus or something..
Hershey came up with a Kiss that tastes like hot cocoa……..very CREATIVE. Tastes fantastic!
Mark Loretta's one-year deal is worth $1.25 million and he could earn some bonuses with that as well. Colletti said Loretta could be platooned with Blake DeWitt and would help the youngster. "A winning-type player," Colletti described Loretta. "His versatility and understanding of winning games and preparing." Colletti said the signing did not necessarily mean Nomar Garciaparra was no longer an option for the Dodgers.
i like the Loretta signing, but i don't want him platooning with dewitt.. i want blake to have a real shot at starting and not feel like his job is in jeopardy.. and about nomar.. didn't someone say he was retiring?
trublu 🙂
you're cracking me up.. haha
I heard you guys need another announcer — here's a plea to bring back old friend Ross Porter. I still love Ross and he would be a lot of fun teaming up with Steve Lyons.
I think that they we're [Mc]courting CC Sara. Kinda like we're [Mc]screwed.
Rick ~ I loved listening to Ross. Bringing him back would be very CREATIVE.
haha enchanted.. you will forever be the master of words.. what was i thinking, saying ned has talent.. he needs to be in your classroom learning from the master!
"clearly, he needs to eat a thesaurus or something.."
I was thinking of a different orafice…
I see you're starting to get warmed up, Enchanted!
I predict the Dodgers will sign Manny for three years at a very high salary…and perhaps extend Torre one more year so they can ride off together. And Ned's bonus for finally signing Manny will be that he can finally, finally trade that wonderful insurance policy known as Juan Pierre. I want to see Repko's intensity on the roster all season, and that can't happen as long as Juan and Andruw are taking up oxygen. But if you're Manny, you can just imagine this conversation:
"Scott, how come Ned give Juan five years and he won't give me five? I mean, I hit good for them."
"Manny, it's because you're paying the price for Ned being an idiot. Pure and simple."
"You mean because he throw away all that good Frank money on Juan, Andruw, Jason, and Nomar? And he won't be stupid no more if I go away?"
haha.. lol
Kpookie ~ very creative, indeed!
Junior Dodgers, not creative. Blue Crew….very CREATIVE!!
very CREATIVE indeed.. there's so much CREATIVITY on this board today..
enchanted, back tracking a bit.. different orafice, yes.. but for the thesaurus? or something else.. like your foot?
The creativeness and creativity on this blog creates a creative environment in which to be creatively creating.
Think that about covers it 🙂
I think so, Enchanted!!
The thesaurus Sara – it'd be close to his head then.
I am quite concerned about winding up with Manny under a contract that he really doesn't like. Yes, he can surely hit, but I think he's also a major head case. I don't want to see the kind of problems that Boston experienced in our ballpark. Either give him three years and be satisfied that Manny will be pleased with the situation and will knock himself out playing winning ball for us, or leave him alone to go wherever he's of a mind to go.
Ned tries to create.
We all try to relate.
I'd like to give him the gate.
For all of this makes me irate.
I can't think straight, I must lose weight.
I'd like to send him to Kuwait.
For his termination, we must await.
Dodger Blue this Gnat will desecrate.
His signing history ain't too great.
I'm full of hate, I should sedate.
He really fools the fourth estate.
Why won't he leave, we'll pay the freight.
We have replacements lying in wait.
He seems to think we get a discount rate.
Oh, when will be his retirement date?
And why did his parents procreate?
haha.. seriously eric.. so CREATIVE.. way to join in on the CREATIVITY for the day, and grace us with your forever CREAVTIVE presence..
oh yeah enchanted, i forgot that ned's head is located lower than most..
that reminds me of:
"Start using your head. That's the lump that's three feet above your ***"
-jimmy dugan in a league of their own
not for neddy!
I agree with Sara, Dodgereric. CREATIVITY is alive and well on ITD today. You are very CREATIVE, indeed!!!
LMAO!!!!!!! Ward Dear….just fabulous!!!!!!!!!! To the rest of our ITD creative writers – fantastic job to you as well. I am in the middle of Polar Express Day, wearing pajamas and drinking hot chocolate, but you are just cracking me up. Thanks for the laughs – keep it up!!!!!!
trublu, i know you're a huge disney fan.. so i sent you something.. check out your email..
Sara ~ Thank you sooooooo much. Just loved it.
of course 🙂
Seems to be a slow day here, so something for the season…………
I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: 'There is no Santa Claus,' she jeered. 'Even dummies know that!'
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. 'No Santa Claus!' she snorted. 'Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go.'
'Go? Go where, Grandma?' I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous, cinnamon bun. 'Where' turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything.
As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. 'Take this money,' she said, 'and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car.' Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker.
He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's second-grade class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. 'Is this a Christmas present for someone?' the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.
'Yes,' I replied shyly. 'It's for Bobby.' The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas. That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote, 'To Bobby, From Santa Claus' on it —
Grandma said, 'Santa always insists on secrecy.' Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. 'All right, Santa Claus,' she whispered, 'get going.'
I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.
Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.
I still have the Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $19.95.
He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree.
Dodgereric/Ward Dear………. 🙂 amazing story!! It's stories like that and the Polar Express (even if fictional) that bring the meaning of faith and believing to life, doesn't it? This is one of my favorite school days of the year because it makes those kids who have been told Santa doesn't exist, a chance to at least think that maybe he still does…………………..Thanks for the lunchtime story.
You're most welcome, June Darlin'!
Wow Eric! Awesome story. If you think this post is decorated with teardrops, you'd be right . . . .
I would have to agree with diggie on that one!!! 🙂
Great story E!
I love Christmas!!
Sports is just our toy department.
There's no good way to transition from Eric's touching story to this, so I'm not gonna try: Pink – So What (for Manny):
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na Na Na
I don't have me a contract
I don't know where it went
Seems CC got all the money
And now its my turn to vent (yeah)
I got the same ol' attitude
And I'm gonna show it tonight
I wanna get in trouble
I wanna tell my plight
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
I wanna tell my plight
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
I wanna tell my plight
So guess what?
I'm still the Man Ram
I got my cartoons
And I don't need you
And so far
I'm having no fun
And once its all done
I'm gonna show all you guys
I'm alright, I'm just fine
And Ned's a tool
So guess what
I'm still the Man Ram
I got my cartoons
I'm gonna show all you guys
Uh, check my cash flow
Colletti won't give me money
Since he gave it to Jason Sch…. it
I guess I'll just sit with Borass
And tell him I'll pitch a fit
What if this gets to the media
They'll say that I'm crossing the line
That'll get me in trouble
That Manny has started to whine
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Manny has started to whine
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Manny has started to whine!
So guess what?
I'm still the Man Ram
I got my cartoons
And I don't need you
And so far
I'm having no fun
And once its all done
I'm gonna show all you guys
I'm alright, I'm just fine
And Ned's a tool
So guess what
I'm still the Man Ram
I got my cartoons
I'm gonna show all you guys
It's not there
The blank check
I want it all
Scott that's not fair
I gave up Boston
For Angeles
It's not there
The payday
So guess what?
I'm still the Man Ram
I got my cartoons
And I don't need you
And so far
I'm having no fun
And once its all done
I'm gonna show all you guys
I'm alright, I'm just fine
And Ned's a tool
So guess what
I'm still the Man Ram
I got my cartoons
I'm gonna show all you guys
No No, No No
I don't need you tonight
It's not there
I'm gonna show all you guys
I'm alright, I'm just fine
And Ned's a tool
So guess what?
I'm still the Man Ram
I got my cartoons
And I don't need you
Ba da da da da da
Artist: Stink
CD: Raise a Stink
©NedCo Broken Records
NedCo – A model of consistency.™
Ouch! My neck hurts! From a standing start to 180 MPH! LMAO e! Outstanding!
#456 on the #90 site in the land!
PS – Thanks for the YouTube link. That particular little diddy was unknown to me previously…….
All I can say E is that you've got MAD SKILLS!!!
I'm still the Man Ram
I got my cartoons
And I don't need you
And to think DC – I could be wasting my time thinking of ways to solve the economic crisis or global warming.
For those that can get Dan Patrick on their local radio station, he is going to be interviewing Ned in a few minutes.
Out here in Norcal the show is being repeated as it behind his live show.
I think you can also get Dan Patrick on the internet.
Baby steps E. Baby steps!!
Gonna take me awhile to do Pink's U + Ur Hand.
I don't think that will be allowed on this page!!!
You guys have all been amazing today! Not that you aren't all the time but, today was showed a lot of CREATIVITY!!!
Your correct Tru!
We are creatively thinking of ways to be creative so that our creativity will be apparent to those that doubt our creativity in such a way that they are blown away by how creative we are, thus making them want to become more creative themselves so our creativity will be challenged in turn causing us to work in a creative way on improving our creativity!!
All I can add to that Dcollins, is very, very creative, indeed! 🙂
All I have to say enchanted is ……WOW!!!!!
Wow E! Great story! My tears were running down my face as I was reading this at work. Thanks! I love stories like this. -Emma
Did anybody see that the Cubs are close to signing Milton?
I can hardly wait for a late summer blow up between he and Lou!!
That will be entertaining.
Looking for an email in my draft folder, I found these Scullisms:
Vin: "The way Kent hits the Rockies, they've probably got an 8″ x 10″ picture of him in all the post offices in Denver."
"Juan Pierre is going steady with the left field pole."
"Felipe Alou first put the mark on Cain."
"In the Coliseum years the Dodgers had many celebrity fans, Nat King Cole being among the most vocal."
"You see that vein in Bowa's neck?? Looks like that could have held up the screen at the Coliseum"
On opening day (2008) during the Historic Heros ceremony: "There are three stages in life — youth, maturity, and 'you-look-wonderful.' Gentlemen may I just say, you look wonderful."
Pierre's line drive into Haren's glove top of the 3rd,"You can't say he caught it,it just found his glove"…
On Proctors pitching (4 pitches 2 homeruns and a single) and Torre went to the mound, on what would a catcher say if the manager asked,"hows his stuff", catchers answer,"I don't know I haven't caught it yet".
"Right now. Maholam is being hit by Hurricane Dodgers"
"Nady went to school at Berkely, but he's not getting a diploma tonight"
"Kemp's had a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride"
After Lowe gets hit in the ankle and taken out by a Giants team that's hit nothing but singles for the entire series:
"It's like being attacked by an angry moth." 4/1/08
After explaining that all of Delwyn Young's friends called him Pee Wee, it's 2 on, 2 out, 2 balls, 2 strikes (deuces wild) in a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth, and Peewee outraces a throw to first while Raffy slides in for the win:
"And Pee Wee is bigger than a Giant!" 4/1/08
Tonight is fleece blanket night, and the Dodgers are trying to fleece the Pirates and put a blanket on it. 4/16/08 — Dodgers winning 5-0 bottom 3rd
'These Bats are made out of celery sticks'
4/16/08 – referring to the 4th broken bat of the Dodgers/Bucs Series and second of the game
I'll be honest with you, this has been a rather forgettable game." (in the sixth inning)
Hiroki Kuroda's wild pitch following several by Ubaldo Jimenez: "Yep, the mound is infected."
On Jimenez being knocked around early: "He does have electric stuff, but then you can get electrocuted."
On Russell Martin taking over at third: "He's fielded so many ground balls behind the plate, he may as well move over there."
On Matt Herges holding Juan Pierre at first base: "Herges made only a couple of pitches to Hu, but Herges has made many more pitches to Helton."
And finally, "Dodgers win. Good morning, everybody!"
(Giants pitcher John the "Count) Montefusco has said,when he was told he would face the Dodgers on opening day,"Good. I will shut them out. "oK" "(Baker ) swings and it's hit deep to left center, good bye shut out hello Dusty Baker". I love this one!
"Strike three, and an angry Ryan Church saying things you cannot say in church."
Last night, after his error, Kuroda was "up to his hips in alligators, bases loaded, no out."
Here are a few comments from Ned on the Dan Patrick show. These aren't quotes just basically what he said.
They aren't waiting for Manny. They need to get their SS position filled as well as a SP and bullpen help.
There is no drop dead date for the contract offer for Manny but that they aren't going to bid against themselves.
Pettitte is in the mix.
No interest in Sheets at all.
When they talked with CC they were surprised he wanted the # of years. They were open to the $$ but not 6-7 years. 4-5 they were willing to talk.
The Yankees are living in another world right now.
There is no chance of bringing Lowe back. He & the Dodgers have parted ways and everyone knows why. When pressed by Patrick he said he didn't want to get into it.
Yankees just acquired Burnett – 5 years, 82.5 mill
Eric, AWESOME story, have you considered sending it in to Reader's Digest? One of those stories that makes everyone a little warmer inside in the winter.
Emma, thanks for sharing the Vin Scully quotes, that man is the REAL magician, I can't remember anyone else that I've known so little about, yet feel like I"ve known him all my life.
DCollins, thanks for the Ned quotes on Dan Patrick. Missed the show, but I would've loved to hear it, I like the way Dan presses just enough to make the interviewee squirm, but not outright offended. His interview with Boras a month ago was priceless.
How much f**king money do the Yankees have???????????????? That's why baseball needs a salary cap. Sorry, but that's how I feel. Hell, the Dodgers have one. It's called Frank McCourt.
heheh, Kahli! Is this Frank's (Salary) Cap?:
NSB–I need to search for that interview with BorASS. I would love to hear that one!
E, great song! Now I can't shake the image of Manny watching Saturday Morning Cartoons with a giant bowl of cereal and giant spoon (on loan from Princess Druw).
Dcollins, it was funny, I've never heard Borass so flustered as in that interview. He was taking up to five seconds after Dan's questions before saying anything, and his voice sounded shaky. Kinda like Dan was pulling on the curtain on the Wizard of Oz
ughh, I hate that I forgot to put spaces in my prior email. and I still can't find what I had in draft.
Anyway, I was going to ask you all. If you decorate for Christmas, do you have any Dodger Christmas items? I really don't. While we were decorating the IT area at work, I ran into a Dodger blue Christmas ball. It made me realize that I don't have any Christmas decorations that are Dodger related. well, except for what the Dodgers sent to season ticket holders, but other than that, I don't have anything else.
I do have a friend that every year she puts up her Dodger Christmas tree. Thru the years she has collected several Dodger related Christmas items and some she does herself by buying Dodger blue Christmas balls and taping pictures to them. I do have a Christmas tree pin but that is all. A friend told me that Target has a Dodgers Christmas hat.
What, no talk about today's announcement that Charley Steiner is being moved exclusively to radio. He and Rick Monday will work the 4th through 9th innings of every game when Scully does TV, and the whole game when Scully does not do TV. The team is looking for someone to be the lead TV announcer to work with Steve Lyons on the games Scully does not work, i.e. road games east of the Rocky Mountains.
Vinnie's workload remains unchanged. Jerry Reuss will no longer be a Dodgers announcer.
Where will the Dodgers find someone to call around 40 games a year? Is bringing back Ross Porter out of the question? Lyons would at least prevent him from being nothing but a statistical statement machine.
Let's see some real candidates thrown out here…
Emma, here's a pic of the one I have on the tree:
It's the highest sports ornament on the tree. Felt it earned it by the performance this year, and my gf's mom has hers lower (not too happy with the Yankees, heh). But in football in years past, it's been fun. With a Raiders, 49ers and Dolphins fan here, until the Dolphins did good this year, it's usually been a fight to hang our own football ornament on the lowest branch!!!
Three times in his sensational career has Sandy Koufax walked out to the mound to pitch a fateful ninth where he turned in a no-hitter. But tonight, September the ninth, nineteen hundred and sixty-five, he made the toughest walk of his career, I'm sure, because through eight innings he has pitched a perfect game. He has struck out eleven, he has retired twenty-four consecutive batters, and the first man he will look at is catcher Chris Krug, big right-hand hitter, flied to second, grounded to short. Dick Tracewski is now at second base and Koufax ready and delivers: curveball for a strike.
"O" and one the count to Chris Krug. Out on deck to pinch-hit is one of the men we mentioned earlier as a possible, Joey Amalfitano. Here's the strike one pitch to Krug: fastball, swung on and missed, strike two. And you can almost taste the pressure now. Koufax lifted his cap, ran his fingers through his black hair, then pulled the cap back down, fussing at the bill. Krug must feel it too as he backs out, heaves a sigh, took off his helmet, put it back on and steps back up to the plate. Tracewski is over to his right to fill up the middle, (John) Kennedy is deep to guard the line. The strike two pitch on the way: fastball, outside, ball one. Krug started to go after it and held up and Torborg held the ball high in the air trying to convince Vargo (the umpire) but Eddie said no sir. One and two the count to Chris Krug. It is 9:41 p.m. on September the ninth. The one-two pitch on the way: curveball, tapped foul off to the left of the plate.
The Dodgers defensively in this spine-tingling moment: Sandy Koufax and Jeff Torborg. The boys who will try and stop anything hit their way: Wes Parker, Dick Tracewski, Maury Wills and John Kennedy; the outfield of Lou Johnson, Willie Davis and Ron Fairly. And there's twenty-nine thousand people in the ballpark and a million butterflies. Twenty nine thousand, one hundred and thirty-nine paid.
Koufax into his windup and the one-two pitch: fastball, fouled back out of play. In the Dodger dugout Al Ferrara gets up and walks down near the runway, and it begins to get tough to be a teammate and sit in the dugout and have to watch. Sandy back of the rubber, now toes it. All the boys in the bullpen straining to get a better look as they look through the wire fence in left field. One and two the count to Chris Krug. Koufax, feet together, now to his windup and the one-two pitch: fastball outside, ball two. (Crowd booing on the tape.)
A lot of people in the ballpark now are starting to see the pitches with their hearts. The pitch was outside, Torborg tried to pull it over the plate but Vargo, an experienced umpire, wouldn't go for it. Two and two the count to Chris Krug. Sandy reading signs, into his windup, two-two pitch: fastball, got him swinging.
Sandy Koufax has struck out twelve. He is two outs away from a perfect game.
Here is Joe Amalfitano to pinch-hit for Don Kessinger. Amalfitano is from Southern California, from San Pedro. He was an original bonus boy with the Giants. Joey's been around, and as we mentioned earlier, he has helped to beat the Dodgers twice, and on deck is Harvey Kuenn. Kennedy is tight to the bag at third, the fastball, a strike. "O" and one with one out in the ninth inning, one to nothing, Dodgers. Sandy reading, into his windup and the strike one pitch: curveball, tapped foul, "O" and two. And Amalfitano walks away and shakes himself a little bit, and swings the bat. And Koufax with a new ball, takes a hitch at his belt and walks behind the mound.
I would think that the mound at Dodger Stadium right now is the loneliest place in the world. Sandy fussing, looks in to get his sign, "O" and two to Amalfitano. The strike two pitch to Joe: fastball, swung on and missed, strike three. He is one out away from the promised land, and Harvey Kuenn is comin' up.
So Harvey Kuenn is batting for Bob Hendley. The time on the scoreboard is 9:44. The date, September the ninth, nineteen-sixty-five, and Koufax working on veteran Harvey Kuenn. Sandy into his windup and the pitch, a fastball for a strike. He has struck out, by the way, five consecutive batters, and that's gone unnoticed. Sandy ready and the strike one pitch: very high, and he lost his hat. He really forced that one. That's only the second time tonight where I have had the feeling that Sandy threw instead of pitched, trying to get that little extra, and that time he tried so hard his hat fell off — he took an extremely long stride to the plate — and Torborg had to go up to get it.
One and one to Harvey Kuenn. Now he's ready: fastball, high, ball two. You can't blame a man for pushing just a little bit now. Sandy backs off, mops his forehead, runs his left index finger along his forehead, dries it off on his left pants leg. All the while Kuenn just waiting. Now Sandy looks in. Into his windup and the two-one pitch to Kuenn: swung on and missed, strike two. It is 9:46 p.m.
Two and two to Harvey Kuenn, one strike away. Sandy into his windup, here's the pitch:
Swung on and missed, a perfect game!
(Thirty-eight seconds of cheering by the crowd.)
On the scoreboard in right field it is 9:46 p.m. in the City of the Angels, Los Angeles, California. And a crowd of twenty-nine thousand one-hundred thirty nine just sitting in to see the only pitcher in baseball history to hurl four no-hit, no-run games. He has done it four straight years, and now he caps it: On his fourth no-hitter he made it a perfect game. And Sandy Koufax, whose name will always remind you of strikeouts, did it with a flurry. He struck out the last six consecutive batters. So when he wrote his name in capital letters in the record books, that "K" stands out even more than the O-U-F-A-X.
Sandy Koufax's Perfect Game on September 9, 1965
9th Inning Vin Scully Word-for-Word Transcript
I had not heard that. I am trying to cath up with news. Why is Charlie not doing Tv? I would love to have Ross back. When Ross left I sent him an email and he responded something like "Is people like you that makes it all worthwhile.." just a nice email. I miss him doing Dodger Talk. I always learned something from him.
Eric, somewhere I have (or had) a 45 RPM record of that inning.
Is anyone else getting tired of the phrase "Manny being Manny"? Why would anyone even repeat such a silly comment that Manny would consider retiring if he does get the contract he wants? I can understand a player trying to hang on making such a decision but Manny? Obviously, it is not the money by itself but the status that goes with it. Give me a break!
As for those who say the Dodgers do not have a plan, I think it is clear they do have a plan: spend wisely for a change. As for Boras thinking Manny is entitled to a contract similar to Bond's last contract, this is just fuzzy headed thinking. Times were different then and who says the Giants made the right choice? How many games did they win and how many titles? Remember, Boras does not care anything about winning, only about getting the best deal for his client.
Okay, I managed to take a simple children's Christmas song and change it into a Dodger song. I wrote it while watching part of the Polar Express this afternoon. The song is "Must Be Santa." If you have young children, you should know the song (or at least the tune). If you don't, then pull the song up on youtube to listen just to get a feel of the tune. Even if I could pull up youtube (which I can't here at school), there are alot of versions of the song so it's a matter of knowing the tune versus the lyrics. I can't take all the credit. My students were singing the original, and managed to fit Andre's name in there many times so eventhough I didn't use Andre's name in the song, the idea of changing the song, came from them. My students only know the good stuff that happens in terms of the Dodgers, so I told them I would do a good song about the boys in blue, but for now, here is one that represents some of the good and some of the not-so-good, about our Dodgers.
Song: Must Be Dodgers
Original Song: Must Be Santa
By – various artists and lyrics
Who's has a team that's blue and white?
Dodgers have a team that's blue and white?
Who's has Frank that's cheap and tight?
Dodgers have Frank who's cheap and tight.
Frank too cheap
Frank too cheap
Blue and white
Blue and white
Who's has Ned that we all dread?
Dodgers have Ned that we all dread.
Who's has Joe that needs to go?
Dodgers have Joe that needs to go.
Joe to go
Ned we dread
Frank too cheap
Blue and White
Must be Dodgers
Must be Dodgers
Must be Dodgers
Dodger Blue
Who's has young guns that are great?
Dodgers have young guns that are great.
Who's has fans that are the best?
Dodger's have fans that are the best.
Fans are best
Young guns great
Joe to go
Ned we dread
Frank too cheap
Blue and white
Must be Dodgers
Must be Dodgers
Must be Dodgers
Dodger Blue
Who has the best blog all around?
We have the best blog all around.
Who has a team that we all love?
Dodgers have a team that we all love.
Team we love
Fans are best
Young guns great
Joe to go
Ned we dread
Frank too cheap
Blue and white
Must be Dodgers
Must be Dodgers
Must be Dodgers
Dodger Blue
Dodgereric ~ fantastic writings today! It's been a joy reading all of it.
I decorate for Christmas every year with a different theme…..this year my front window is all Mickey Mouse complete with a red tree. All the kids come up to the window with their parents just to see it. I'm not into traditional Christmas decorating as you can see. Last year M & M's were the theme.
When I first saw the headline about shuffling the broadcast lineup I thought something big might be happening. This change is no big deal and I agree with the reason given. As much as I would like to see Ross back I doubt he will be given the opportunity.
lbirken, I know I'm not alone when I say this: When I read that transcript, Vinnie's voice is in my head and it's clear as a bell. I hear every inflection, every rise and every fall of that elegantly melodic voice.
I have a cassette tape that I made years ago during the 50th anniversary of KFI. I think at least Kuenn's at-bat is on that.
There will obviously never be another one like him. I mentioned last spring that a "Best of Vin Scully" CD or DVD would sell like hotcakes and would be a wonderful fundraiser for a charity. Shoot, I'd buy several just for gifts. I know that a lot of games weren't recorded, but a lot still must exist. Vinnie's 60th is coming up.
How many people have worked for the same company for 60 years? Especially someone not related to the owner. There can't be too many.
Way to go, Dnelly! Very creative!
FABULOUS SONG ONCE AGAIN ENCHANTED!!!!!! Does your mind ever quit? Fortunately, I know the answer to that question.
Dodgereric/Ward Dear……………. sigh 🙂 ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS TOO……………..another mind that never quits!!!
northstateblues………just too funny!!!!! (if the cap fits……)
Ward Dear……in reading my song over, can you take the word "all" out of the last verse "the blog all around. There are too many syllables – thanks- lol 🙂 I really hate when I do that!!!!! You would think……………
I love your Dodger ornament! Where did you get it?
I have read that transcript a few times but last Sunday I was trying to remember the pitcher's name for the Curbs that pitched that day. Bob Hendley. Thanks for remind me. I re-read that transcript again. Thanks!
Eric, what a great idea. I would certainly buy a "best of" Vinny CD and I would buy one for my son and daughter. My son wore out two 1981 World Series vinyl LPs and can recite everything on that record by heart to this day (he is 31).
I cannot even describe how weird it is to realize I have been listening to one person for 50 years and how important that person has been to me.
Need a new broadcaster? If tradition is REALLY important:
WE WANT ROSS PORTER!!! :: clap clap clap-clap-clap ::
WE WANT ROSS PORTER!!! :: clap clap clap-clap-clap ::
Emma, it was from a crafts sale up here a few years ago… next time they have one, I'll see if she's still around.
Northstateblues ~ Tradition is only important to us, the fans. Remember who owns the team! I do agree with you, however………..BRING BACK ROSS PORTER AND BRING BACK THE BLUE CREW!!
Junie, it's done. I can also change the size of the fonts. Italics, bold, underline. Look at what I did to yours.
If anyone wants me to customize their songs over there, all you have to do is ask. It's for all of us.
I gotta scoot, we're out of dog food and if I don't get home, they're going to give my dinner.
As usual, it's been wonderful to play with all you knuckleheads! May God Bless all of you!
Emma, scratch that, it was from Sports Fever, and many other types of sports stores too (FANZZ, Pro Image, etc)
Found it here on this site I found on Google:
WE WANT ROSS PORTER!!! :: clap clap clap-clap-clap ::
WE WANT ROSS PORTER!!! :: clap clap clap-clap-clap ::
Remember all the stats Ross used to throw out during the broadcasts? As I recall he took some criticism for that.
nsblues – I just went back and read more, and I saw the picture of your Dodger Snowman. I have one too 🙂
I am leaving school, and eventually heading home. I will catch up with some of you later if you are on Late Night ITD. If not, have a fabulous Friday night!!! Take Care 🙂
Just some more winter reading. What's more interesting than the actual article, off to the right side, there is another article. The top 10 worst free agent signings in the last 20 years, and guess who made the list? JP at #8 and Andruw was an honorable mention. CHP actually made the list at #10, but it was for his signing with the Rangers, not the Dodgers.
Good Evening ITD late night readers and writers!!!!! A very slow night tonight.
Ward Dear………… I reread your story from today, and you really should publish. It would make a fabulous children's story, which adults would enjoy reading as well, and all you would need is an illustrator. Or, like someone suggested, there's always magazines such as Reader's Digest who publish short stories. Also, thanks for fixing my song and adding fancy fonts – very cool!!!!
Hey, can't stay for long right now, but after hearing all the double talk on all sides during this hot stove season, why does this song keep coming to mind?
I can't imagine why……………LMAO!!!!
Ned and Frank have reached the point of squeezing Manny just hard enough to make him all pouty and moody. If you eventually sign Manny, you don't want the Manny Being Manny version. You want Mannywood. Pay him his schillings and let's be done with it.
Is management just going to sit on their hands and not do anything about getting some pitching. It's obvious we cannot win with what we have now. Lets sign Sheets or Pettitte, resign Furcal and Manny and be done with his and lets get on with the new year..
At the rate money gets thrown around now (for baseball players, that is) I would have been tempted to throw in the other million and keep Saito. I do not think Broxton is the answer. Maybe in a year or two, but not yet.
Morning everyone.
After reading Ned's comments regarding long term contracts, and knowing that any real player in the CC arena had to come in with at least 5 years with an option for a 6th (not to mention the money), not 4 years, AND with his and Frank's self-imposed limit of 3 year contracts, I came to the realization that this organization as currently run will NEVER sign (or be able to sign) a premier FA.
Ergo we'll always be stuck with PVLs and sloppy seconds. The only way we'll ever have anyone is if one of the kids develops into a superstar, but then we'll watch them go away when Frank won't pay them.
Quite a strange way of going about building a champion. The youth part is fine, but hiring transient has-beens and never-were's to "compliment" them is a fool's folly – we'll always be short at least one missing piece because year after year we'll always have to rebuild 1/3 to 1/2 of the team.
Great Song Nells!!
Read that worst signing's article too. How could they not put Schmidt in there? That ought to be #1 when they knew he was injured when they signed him. Andruw should also be above JP IMO.
Enchanted ~ I think we were all fools thinking that if we wanted to, we could have had both CC and Manny. Granted, now, I don't think I'd give any pitcher 7 years. I thought we were trying to build a winning team. I have faith in our young guns but, they can't be expected to do it alone. Maybe the words for today, coming from you, wise one, shoud be "COMPLIMENTARY" and "FOOLS FOLLY". I sure feel like a fool being duped into thinking we'd be sitting on top of the National League West.
Good Morning ITD readers and writers!!!!
Boblee – it's good to see you!! It looks like both of our teams (Cowboys and Redskins) are having their issues. Who would have though, huh? As far as the Dodgers, I'm not sure what's happening other than a whole lot of nothing like you said.
enchanted – thanks, and yes, it seems as though they are just going to play the waiting game and see how our season starts and rebuild with PVLs as our season progresses. It's not a way to build a championship team that is to become a dynasty. Also, we haven't heard anything about how they are dealing with Martin, Ethier and Brox, who are up for arbitration as well.
Just a side note – One of the coaches at our academy has a brother who is one of the pitching coaches for the Blue Jays. They are pretty upset about the Burnett signing, but couldn't do anything about it because they don't have the money. I also asked about the Nationals and the signing of Tex. He feels they have the fan base, the new stadium and the money to support a big signing, unlike Florida, Toronto, etc., who have no money to spend and not a strong fan base. He wasn't sure Tex wants to be there is what might be the problem.
We have a very strong fan base, and we have a pretty decent stadium, so there is no reason we shouldn't be able to go out and get who we want. Frank needs to sell the team so somebody willing to take risks, and if the risk doesn't work, then move onto the next risk. We are a big market team, and we should be able to act like a big market team. If we don't act like a big market team, we are going to lose our core young guns sooner than later.
Article from Tony Jackson – there are four left for arbitration: Broxton, Martin, Ethier and Repko, but nothing was said about the developments of those contracts.
The Angels – a possbile 8-year deal/90 mil for Tex.
Read it again. That's "nearly double the prvious high of $90 million". They are at least matching the $160 million and 8 years from the Nats.
Frank wouldn't even offer an 8-year deal to a janitor…
Pretty good work, if you can get it!
I'd like to try out on Monday. Think they'll give me a similar contract? 😉
Nah, I'd rather play for the Dodgers. They can keep their millions.
Enchanted ~ Frank even cut down Charley Steiner's job…..radio, only.
Wonder what they'll offer Andre? I'm kind of scared to see what it turns out to be.
i thought i clicked this thread, but i guess i clicked the previous one.. so i posted this on the wrong thread:
arbitration info:
Andre Ethier and Russell Martin were the Dodgers to achieve Super 2 status this year, meaning they became arbitration-eligible without having at least three years of major league service time. They are in for big paydays, and it will be interesting to see if the Dodgers are content to pay them year-to-year rather than try to lock them up long-term. They've already been turned back talking about multi-year deal by Martin's agent.
Also tendered contracts were Jonathan Broxton and Jason Repko. Amazingly, assuming Jeff Kent doesn't return to the team, they will be the two players with the most tenure on the Dodgers next year.
the turnover thought is crazy.. broxton and repko will be the "senior" members of our organiztion..
shepherd – my mistake – thanks for correcting. It was the 8 years versus the money that stuck out to me most, I guess… 🙂
Ooo wooo ooo wooo to you, Northstateblues 🙂
Let me run this scenario past you good people.
Manny can't go to the Yankees, because he won't cut his dreds and shave always and wear a suit in public.
Manny can't go to the Angels, if the Angels resign Tex.
Manny can't go back to Boston, because.
What team can pay Manny what he wants, where he will be loved for who he is?
Am I overlooking something? Well, besides Boras.
Shepherd – It's got to be Boras or Frank holding it up, right?
northstateblues – it is still stuck in your head? 🙂
Well, yes, I agree that it's got to be Boras or Frank.
From the standpoint of a fan, I am just trying to figure out who would give a multiyear contract in the amount Boras and Manny expect. I think I understand what Ned is trying to do and a little bit of why.
I feel better about the Ds chances of getting Manny back than I felt yesterday. I think if Tex signs with the Angels, it changes everything.
Shepherd ~ I think Manny will be signed by the Dodgers. It's just Boras and Frank doing their usual back-and-forth demands and offers. Some people think Manny will sit out for quite a while, which is what Boras likes his clients to do, but, I think if we want to get other things done, we will sign him soon.
shepherd – It just seems we are in a "sit and wait" mode right now, and until the dominoes fall, we are all just speculating, and with the chaos that happened over thinking we had a chance at CC, I figure I am clueless at this point in what this organization is up to. I would love to see Manny in left field, but at what cost, I am not sure. It doesn't sound like Matt and Andre are going anywhere, but then you have Andruw and JP, who don't appear to be going anywhere ethier at this point.
Maybe we should forget about Manny and go after Matt Holliday…….I really don't think the "A"s are going to keep him. We could probably get Cain from the Giants for practically nothing……they've wanted to unload him for quite some time. I'm thinking give them Jones and Pierre:) With a proper pitching coach and a new enviornment, Cain might do a good job. Then again, maybe he's not old enough to meet the age requirement.
What do you see in Holliday that you don't see in Manny? Besides defense.
Actually, we can be confident that Manny won't get injured playing defense. 🙂 It could work out better than Wrecko in 2007.
Count your blessings.
Shephard ~ I do want to sign Manny. But, I don't have much confidence in our ownership……..I think however, if we don't sign him the fans will be a little more than miffed! Don't you think there are other options out there, just in case?
Perhaps you're right. Dodger fans would go into shock if they had someone in blue hitting more than 35 hrs for multiple years in a row. Very dangerous situation.
No, we can't offer Manny a three-year contract for $75 million. Too many would die from heart attacks. Or something.
LA would lose major earning power. LA the city, not the team.
If Texeira goes for the big bucks, won't Boras want the same type deal for Manny? The age thing aside, Manny is a proven winner, has a ring to show for it, while Tex hasn't really done much of anything.
After the way that Ned and Frank have gotten burned, the age thing is everything in contracting.
Joe, on the other hand, likes a proven commodity.
Good point, Shepherd.
Shep your last comment epitomizes the Dodgers' management – none of them are on the same page.
Manny has only one or two peers in hitting: Pujols and Teixeira.
Manny's lowest slg, other than 2007, was .587
His lowest obp back to 1995 was .377
His annual HR totals since 1995: 31, 33,26, 45, 44, 38, 41, 33, 37, 43, 45, 35, 20, 37
His annual RBI totals since 1995: 107, 112, 88, 145, 165, 122, 125, 107, 104, 130, 144, 102, 88, 121
Yeah, he was a real slacker for Boston. In 2006, he played in *only* 130 games, hit *only* 35 Hr, 102 rbi, and walked 100 times with 550 PA. In 2007, he played in 133 games, hit 20 HR, 88 rbi, walked 71 times in 555 PA. In 2008, he played in 153 games, hit 37 HR, 121 rbi, walked 87 times in 640 PA.
The second best Dodger hitter this year, Ethier, played in 141 games, hit 20 HR, 77 rbi, walked 59 times in 585 PA. Andre says that he benefitted from hitting ahead of Manny and his average went from .292 in Aug to .462 in Sept, slg wnet from .490 in July to .615 in Aug to .692 in Sept. Andre's obp went from .346 in Aug to .557 in Sept. Andre drove in 18 rbi in Sept, when he was mostly hitting in front of Manny.
The thing about a hitter like Manny is that everyone who hits around him gets better pitches. There has not been a presence like Manny in the Dodger's batting order since they moved to LA. Yes, I am including Piazza, who rarely played in more than 140 games in a season. Manny's worst year is better than any hitter we have had since Piazza left in 1998. And Manny at his best has not been bettered since 1953. Manny has compiled a record most like Hank Aaron– long and consistent. Manny's avg, slg, obp, HR, and rbi pace is better than Hammerin' Hank's. Hank lasted 23 years. Manny has completed 16. Manny seened to have a lot of fun playing for the Dodgers. If he has fun for a few more years, so will we. We are watching a legend in the making.
I'll take Manny's worst and best as long as he can play.
Pitching wins championships, but as the Dodgers learned in 1977, respect the bat of a great hitter.
Anybody remember the short Dodger tenure of Kirk Gibson? Despite rarely having a slg over .500 (Manny's lifetime is .593) and never having as many as 30 Hr or 100 RBI in a season, Gibson changed the whole tone of the Dodgers for the better in 1988. A great hitting attitude permeates the entire order. It helps the attitude of the pitchers, too.
If Derek Lowe thought that Manny would stay for the next 3 years, don't you think that he and pitchers like him would look more favorably at the Dodgers?
I really don't think the Dodgers are serious about signing Manny. They seem to want everything on their terms.
According to Colletti, Boras & Manny want 4-5 years but he still won't budge.
If they were serious they would all be sitting down now discussing a 4 year contract.
Instead I think the Dodgers are waiting for some other team to come along and do it.
Then the Dodgers will come out with some excuse blaming the player.
And while Los Angeles Dodgers president Jamie McCourt wondered aloud the other day whether teams should spend millions on ballplayers when they could use the money instead to build new fields for kids to play on, the cost of bringing the family to see a game at Dodger Stadium has gone up 57 percent since she and husband, Frank, bought the team five years ago.
As much as I love the dodgers, this is why I hate them.
for a 57 percent increase we have not signed (nor will we this year) one single impact player in their prime over those 5 years. This year one of the prime guys gbegged to play for us but we didn't even make an offer. And we always find an excuse. So this offseason were desperetly trying to sign a bunch of guys over 32 (past prime years) to compliment our youth. Like that has really worked. My guess is we are no better than 10 games over .500 since the Mcloosers bought the team.
Bravo jungar!!!!!!! Bravo!!!!!!! When you speak, you speak well 🙂
Pitching wins championships, but a dominant hitter can change everthing. Remember Jackson in 1977 and Gibson in 1988. Gibson rarely exceeded slg of .500 and never hit as many as 30 Hr or 100 rbi in a season, yet he transformed the 1988 Dodgers with attitude.
The Yankees are consuming all the oxygen in the process right now. No agent wants to move until the Yankees indicate that they are or are not interested in a particular player.
The Dodgers need players that don't fit the Yankee button-down mode. Manny is perfect, because he would never pull a Johnny Damon and change his image for money. Remember Mickey Hatcher? He was a misfit near the end of his MLB career as a role-player. He was overlooked by everyone because of his odd personality. Yet he hit a key HR in the 1988 WS. He played the Jester to Gibson's King. With Manny around, the Dodgers are loose and the hitters are more formidable. Manny had good effect on Ethier, Kemp, and Loney. Only Martin seemed to suffer a sophomore slump. I think he comes back to form. If Ethier and Manny were behind Furcal, Raffy might prefer coming back.
Even Casey Blake has more HR than any Dodger for the past five years. He is signed, now we need Manny, Raffy, and pitching help.
Way to go, Shepherd!!!!
We have Martin, Loney, Kemp, and Ethier. Billingsley and Kershaw.
We may even keep them for a few years.
Jungar, this is what you were crying for last year. Here it is. We kept the core of our young players. We brought on a surprise in DeWitt. We added Manny and Blake. We lost Lowe and Penny went bust.
The poor record of the past 20 years is no reason to poor mouth our chances this year, if we keep Manny and Furcal and get serviceable pitchers.
Shepherd ~ I, for one, love our young players. I think we would have won the division in a runaway if Joe would have played them from the beginning. The thing that bothers me is we keep hearing about management's plans to do something pretty great and, then they let us down. I don't think I'll believe anything I read or hear as rumor until it is written in stone.
Not sure when this article was written:
Andruw Jones strikes out, singles in Dominican debut
Andruw Jones picked up in the Dominican Republic right where he left off in the major leagues, striking out in his debut with Aguilas Cibaenas in his first winter league game Friday in Santiago.
Jones, who struck out 76 times in 75 games with the Dodgers during an injury-plagued summer in which he batted just .158, also singled and walked in three appearances as Aguilas got four-hit in a 5-1 loss to Azucareros of La Romana.
Jones' former Braves and Dodgers teammate Rafael Furcal, who lives in Santiago and played for Aguilas last season, watched the game from the dugout
Here's the link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/dominican_winter_league/index.html
I think if we keep Manny and Furcal, we will be in good shape, especially in our division. The question is "if", and that is something we certainly don't know. However, they are our Dodgers for good or bad, and come Spring Training and Opening Day, we will all be there cheering on the boys in Blue.
I guess a single is a start enchanted. I am going to have to see how he does in a few more games before passing judgement 🙂
What I wanted was playing our best players a few years back, they just happened to be young. Then what I wanted was not signing crappy players who are past their prime to block other young players. What I wanted was a few franchise type players, in their prime, who could be put with the 8 or so solid young players and be the core for 5-7 years. Not turning the roster over every year in an attempt to compete this year. Now I agree shepeard we are stuck. If we don't sign Manny we will have no offense and our pitching heading (heading) into the year barring some miracle just got worse. We have to replace Lowe, Penny, lefty reliever and now we have to replace our closer and if we promote brox to closer we have to replace our set up man.
Precisely jungar – a few franchise players in their prime, not vets being put out to pasture. This is where Ned and Frank just don't have the tools to be GM and owner.
So, in other words we need a new owner and GM, ya think?
In the event the D's don't sign Manny and instead go with Jones and Pierre in '09, I looked up a list of 2010 FAs just to see if there were going to be any "name" players available, then I caught myself… even if there are, we won't get them.
We make so many excuse for our squad. The Phillies were a good example and the Cubs who we happen to beat, but each team had 2-4 in their prime stars. Maybe not like Manny (few are) but Armis and Lee and Soriano and Zambrano and Dempster all were stars in the prime years and all will be back again..Utley, Hamels, Howard, Rollins..4 more. Other than getting lucky with Manny we havent had any player we could say is as good as those guys in the McCourt Regime. Maybe Raffy in 06, but even then in 06 rollins had more runs, rbi, steals, doubles than raffy….
I'll give you 27 million, plus about another 75 (if were lucky) million reason why we won't get Manny.
I can just see it now…opening day
Good evening ITD,
Good Evening Dodger4life!!!!!!
BRING BACK THE BLUE CREW!!!!! northstateblues – keep studying ~ we gotcha covered 🙂
Good Evening Nelly,
I shall retire after 700 post's 🙂
enchanted can retire after 700 songs – LOL!!!!
BRING BACK THE BLUE CREW!!!!! Keep studying northstateblues!!!!
Jungar ~ your opening day roster is frightening, but probably true. The only bright spot is that we are in the NL West.
How many more have I got to go???
No mater what kind of day you had or are having, this will make you smile:
Not quite the Beattles,
But I enjoyed it all the same.
How are you Enchanted???
Well D4. And you??
Those Corgi's were cute. I wonder if one of them can pitch?
LMAO!!!!! enchanted, is one of those corgis yours? How cute!!!!! I will have to send that one to my Mariposa colleague. She has three and they behave just like yours – how funny!!!
Life is good 🙂
No Tru, but they give you a tough strike zone to pitch to.
The second one facially looks like one of mine but no, mine aren't that talented. My wife wants a third one, but I told her not until the basset hound is gone. Bad enough boarding three when you want to go on vacation.
I know what you mean about having dogs, Enchanted. I have 4 and Nells has 3 so it's hard for us to visit our relatives in LaQuinta. They only have one and it is much easier for them to come here for the holidays.
enchanted – I didn't know you had a basset too. I knew about the corgis. That is a houseful 🙂 My teacher friend got the third one because she found it in the road on the way to school one day, and nobody claimed it. They are big horse people who travel with trailers to shows and such so they just travel with the corgis mostly.
BRING BACK THE BLUE CREW!!!!!! Keep studying northstateblues – like he is even studying on a Saturday night 🙂
Had the basset for almost 9 years. She's getting all gray now.
Tough for us because we usually either go to an island of some sort for a real vacation, or a roadtrip… trust me, you don't want three dogs on a road trip.
Worse that having 3 toddlers on a road trip!
enchanted ~ No, I totally understand – LOL!! That would be next to impossible for us too. We have all mutts – one half lab/half german shephard, one half queens healer/half pitbull, and then one is a terrier mix……..three different sizes and three different personalities, with the pitbull being the nicest.
enchanted – did you watch the other videos next to that one? – LOL!!!!
Yeah, if we're able to move back to Oakhurst in the next year or two I'm not looking forward to having three dogs couped up for 16+ hours in a Civic. I'm going to look into sedation – for the dogs too.
Seen quite a few of the videos Nells – I love those dogs.
They are very cute dogs!!!! We just had a cat from California to Tennessee and that was horrible!!!!! I can't imagine three dogs.
I have been youtubing dog videos for like an hour now.
Greetings, one and all!
Good Evening Ward Dear……….How are you this fine Saturday evening?
jungar – I have been watching the corgi ones since enchanted's post. Your dog is very cute too.
Corgi's do have poisenality. They're kinda like Matt Kemp – full of energy, highly agile, and a strong will.
Basset Hounds are kinda… well… like Ned.
Can't beat a good dog video……..:-)
George Bailey is about to get his wish again.
I had a friend in highschool who had a basset hound, Bogie, and he was so cool. That bark though, oh my goodness.
I'd better light outta here. Catch you all tomorrow or Monday.
Good Night enchanted!!!! Thanks for the conversation and the Corgi video – very cute and cool!!!! Take Care……. 🙂
Good night, e!
We have a half beagle/half whoknows.
Ward Dear………maybe I am having another senior moment( I have had a couple tonight), but I am I supposed to know who George Bailey is?
Beagles – yeah!!!!! They are our school mascot – Snoopy!!!
nevermind!!!!! I know now!!!!!!! Oh I can't believe I forgot that!!!!
Thank you 🙂
BRING BACK THE BLUE CREW IS RIGHT!!!!!! Keep studying northstateblues!!!!!!
……every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.
……To my big brother George……..the richest man in town!
DodgerEric ~ Good to see ya 🙂
'Evenin' D4, staying warm?
28 degrees right now, outside
80 next to the heater however.
28 brrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!
It is all white, I dont have to mow the lawn 🙂
Okay, you have me beat…….it is 41 here, but feels like 28 – LOL!!!!!!!
Maybe this will make you feel warmer:
I just checked the weather for Fargo, ND. The high on Monday will be -10.
Rockin' around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday. Everyone dancin' merrily in the new old fashioned way.
Been there and done that, I feel much better.
Thanks 🙂
Now that is cold, but no, it doesn't make me feel warmer – LOL!!!!
…..and what is the temperature in Temecula?
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow…..
only the way Bing Crosby sings it of course 🙂
42 on my porch right now.
That's why my dad moved us out here. 🙂
You are only a degree warmer than us right now, which isn't bad really. I am just a PG&E customer, and if we aren't careful, we can end up with a $1000 bill between heating the house and the extra electricity for the holiday lights, etc. Plus, we live in a pretty old house, which isn't insulated too well, so it's very drafty.
We're supposed to get down to 36.
Holy smokes! A grand? Break out the sweaters!
No kidding!!! Having PG&E sucks- last year, the bill was around $900. However, since then, we have gotten a new heating and air conditioning unit when we got the new roof put on, and that has helped tremendously. We keep the thermostat at 65, but we just don't know what will happen this year……. It's funny how 65 outside seems warm, but 65 inside seems cold. We are supposed to be in the mid 30's as well sometime tonight.
Snuggie's $ 19.95 LOL!!!!!
…..our summer bills were way down when having the air conditioner on compared to last year with the old one, so we are hoping for the same this time with the new heater.
It's called pjs and sweat shirts most of the time. For some reason this year I am colder than most. I used to be able to walk around in t-shirts most of the time, but not as much anymore unless I am cooking or baking where there is direct heat. Now, when we can use the fire place, that's a different story – nice and cozy then.
If I combined our worst Edison and Gas Company bills, I wouldn't get to $500. And that's using a winter gas bill and a summer Edison. Although the gas is supposed to go up now some 30%.
Well, we haven't had anything over 250 yet, so we are hoping to stay in that range throughout the winter. When we lived in Las Vegas, we were under Southwest Gas, and it was pretty good.
30% is alot Eric – yikes!!!! I am sure we are headed for increases too then.
So, did Matt go snowboarding?
Thanks D….Nelly! His name is Pippen. No, no not named after Scottie Pippen…but the Hobbit that hangs with Frodo. He is a Havanese. My first dog ever…Anyhow, yah I'm only scrooge like regarding the dodgers. No matter my bark on ITD it's worse than my bite, I can't wait to get games started again.
jungar ~Well, I would have thought Lord of the Rings too with that name. I always enjoy reading what you have to say – it is certainly thought provoking to say the least, and you are usually correct
Yeah he did, and he had a blast. A bit too crowded, he said, but he had fun.
Great name for your dog, jungar!
I knew you would like the name of jungar's dog!!!!
I am glad he had fun…. that is great!!!!!!
interesting reading about the sluggers in the league.
So what's the over-and-under on how many games Burnett starts for the Yanks next year? I say 19.
Well, he went 18-10 last season and pitched 35 games. So, assuming CC is their ace, where does that put him in the rotation, 2nd?
Last season was a contract year for him. He's had a couple of years when he only got into 20 and 21 and he's not getting any younger. Ten trips to the DL, the Yanks will regret this IMO.
I think so too, and I really don't want anything bad to happen to CC, but I hope karma comes back to bite the Yankees in the behind for that one too.
I gotta hit the sack, June Darlin'. God Bless you and yours and anyone else who may be out there!
Good Night Ward Dear…….have a wonderful Sunday with your family and God
Good Night Ward Dear…..have a wonderful Sunday with your family and God Bless to all of you…..take care 🙂
God Bless DodgerEric ~ Take care 🙂
I know most everybody is asleep but I've got some awesome news!! At least for the Manny hopers out there.
I'll try to make it short since it's late & all.
Well this year I've been a good boy. So today when I was walking through the mall and saw Santa I asked that he deliver Manny to Chavez Ravine for the Dodgers.
I know Santa will pull through for us!!
You see this Santa is a co-worker of mine and he's also a Dodger fan!!! So he's going to speak to his boss and make it happen!!
Woo Hoo!!!
And to all a good night!
dcollins – I believe in Santa 🙂 Good Night!!!!!
Good ~ Night Dodgerfaithful,
God bless us all 🙂
Good afternoon, ITD. Has anyone else heard that CC has an opt out clause after 3 years in his new Yankees contract? Seems that CC has some doubts that his family will like living in NY and the Yankees would like to protect themselves from a potential career ending injury. If Ned's interested in being creative, here's an idea for him. Give Manny a 5-year deal for whatever the dollars with an mutual opt out clause after 3 years. Seems like a deal maker to me because each side gets something of what it wants and saves face in the process. I agree that Jungar's lineup is truly scary. With that lineup, we won't pass GO, won't collect a playoff spot, and advance to 2010.
I went to SI.com, and saw a headline "GM unhappy with Yankees spending". I clicked on it, and it was a reiteration of what Ned said on the Dan Patrick show (Dcollins let us know some of this a couple of days ago):
Dodgers GM updates Manny situation
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti joined the show to
— The Dodgers did not make an offer to CC Sabathia. They talked to the pitcher, and he wanted six or seven years and L.A. wouldn't go there.
— The Dodgers made one offer — two years, $45 million, with a third-year option that raised it to $60 million — to Manny Ramirez at the GM meetings. Then they offered him arbitration and he turned it down. Colletti saw Manny's people in Las Vegas, and they were talking about five years.
— Colletti says there is not cut-off date with Manny right now. "To push Scott [Boras] to a deadline is usually a useless endeavor," Colletti said. They plan to work on the rest of the team and wait.
— Upgrading at shortstop is a huge priority for the Dodgers.
— The Dodgers have not had talks about Robinson Cano. "He's a very good player," is all Colletti would say.
— "I don't know if anyone can compete with the Yankees right now. The Red Sox are close. But the Yankees … they're living in a different world," Colletti said. He said it's good for their market if they win, but it's not in line with what baseball was trying to do with the collective bargaining agreement.
— The Dodgers and Derek Lowe are officially parted. He commented on some other pitchers — Jon Garland and Andy Pettitte are possibilities. Ben Sheets is not a possibility.
— "Nobody knows where the economy is going. And nobody knows where this industry is going," Colletti said. So he wants to stay flexible and not lock in the roster by Jan. 1. Colletti is even willing to reshape the team after Opening Day. All that matters is where they end up.
— "You couldn't ask more from a player productivity-wise and personality-wise," Colletti said.
there were four comments, two of them saying CC and Manny aren't worth the money they got/are seeking. The first two, though, looked like they might've come from ITD'ers:
In other words, McCourt has said do not spend money on any BIG, LOOOOOOONG contracts. Sell the damn team McCheap!!
I agree go buy the Galaxy.
Looks like dissent is coming from more than just the "crazy bloggers", the "crazy radio call-in audience" is miffed as well. Wonder how long before the non-crazy fans start feeling this way, or how long it'll be before it'll be crazy to blindly follow the Dodgers in blissful ignorance of the foibles and follies of the caretakers of the franchise.
I'll say one thing, though, they have no problem in taking care of their 300 acres in the Ravine. One has to wonder if all that's standing in the way of a contending team is the cost of, say, a Green Necklace or an Observation Deck. I'm guessing you can see plenty of L.A. while stuck in traffic on the way to/from the game.
As far as the news goes, I laugh on the outside, and cry a little on the inside to see what has become of our team, and the public opinion of it. I already have to deal with rooting for one franchise that has fallen from relevance, and although the paths are by no means parallel, it looks like the McCourts are a few foibles away from following Al's (Davis) Yellow Brick Road to Irrelevant City.
You brilliantly stated how most of us here at ITD feel, Northstateblues. By the way, how did your studying go?
Hey Tru… the studying goes on and on and on… Just trying to keep afloat, heh.
You've hit the nail on the head, nsblues. Essentially, Ned's advancing the ridiculous notion that the D's can't compete for impact talent. This stuff about the collective bargaining agreement is garbage. What's lacking here is the will to compete. The Yankees didn't make the playoffs last year and they're taking steps to ensure that doesn't happen again. Yankees management and their fan base are on the same page: no acceptance of mediocrity. Where is Mark Cuban when we need him?
"Where is Mark Cuban when we need him?"
Seesky, I wish our owners had as much passion for the team on the field as Cuban does. Sure, he's a nut, but he's a nut who almost always gets his team to the playoffs… after that, well… but he's not afraid to spend big to improve the team.
It seems the McCourts are in love with the Dodgers name, and it seems they're content to spend their money on anything BUT the Dodgers ball club, when they become tight. Maybe they're trying to mold us into "loveable losers" like the Cubs, as they're extremely profitable even as they enter a century without a title.
We're a fifth of a way there, by the way.
I hates to says it, but says it I must…
Ned, You Got Lucky (cover of Tom Petty and the Hearbreakers song)
[Manny Ramirez: vocals]
You better watch what you say
You better watch how you joke about me
Don't get carried away
Ned, if you can do better than me
Go… yeah, go
But remember
A good bat is hard to find
A good bat is hard to find
You got lucky, Ned
You got lucky, Ned
When I found you
You tell a one note joke
And then you turn your back on me
You say the team's not complete
I almost took you all the way
But go… yeah, go
But remember
A good bat is hard to find
A good bat is hard to find
You got lucky, Ned
You got lucky, Ned
When I found you
Yeah go
Just go
But remember
A good bat is hard to find
A good bat is hard to find
You got lucky, Ned
You got lucky, Ned
When I found you
While writing this one, I imagined the Heartbreakers coming upon a dusty, empty Dodger Stadium parking lot, with Tumbleweeds and Manny Wigs blowing in the breeze. Instead of coming upon a room with a perfectly tuned centuries-old guitar, they come upon a room showing highlights of the Dodgers, and the rest that's happened since '88. Instead of the guitar solo, I imagine a recording of Vin's greatest calls… and a banner that reads "Dodgers: 6 Time World Champions", copyrighted a few decades from now.
I'm WAAAAAYY more optimistic than imagining the Dodgers go ringless that long. Just keeping in artistic vision with the video 🙂
And apologies if this song's been done on here… for some reason, I had the intro stuck in my head.
I'm starting to question if it's will to compete, or ability to compete. They did acquire Lowe when he was 32, Princess Drew when he was 29 and Penny when he was 26 (all of course by DePo), and Furcal when he was 28. OK, they're not exactly CC and Tex, but it did show some will to field a contender. I'm wondering if Frank's more broke than we all think, thus he doesn't have the ABILITY to compete. You have to admit its awfully strange to acquire guys, especially Blake with his paultry $2 mil left on his contract and insist that it be completely paid by the former club.
it it is true that Frank is more broke than we realize, Enchanted, I wish he'd sell the team to someone who cares. We came close to making the world series last year so, you'd think Frank would do everything in his power to make sure we do it in 2009.
Good Afternoon ITD readers and writers!!!!!!
seesky – I hadn't heard that about CC, and if that is the case, then lets see what Manny thinks about an opt out clause.
nsblues – Awesome song 🙂 How's the studying going?
enchanted – My thinking is if he wasn't broke, we would have at least attempted to get CC, don't you think? I don't need to tell you to think. You do that just fine on your own 🙂
We didn't pay Blake, we didn't pay Manny, we didn't pay Maddux, and I don't think we paid Berroa either. Now there's something wrong when you're drawing 3.5+ million fans paying top dollar and you can't come up with what $12-13 million to pay these guys so you instead lose some decent to good prospects.
Blake signs for $17.5 mil – that seems rather low to me even if he is 35. Don't bid on CC claiming its length of contract rather than money. I'd have offered Manny $50 for 2 years if you're going the short contract route.
Nah, something ain't kosher. Ned's trio of Pierre, Schmidt and Jones did a lot more damage than just their inability to play. Maybe some balloon payments on loans Frank took when he leveraged himself to buy the team? Those usually kick in in about 5 years…
Damn North, I totally missed your song – well done sir!
It certainly makes you think, doesn't it? If he doesn't have money, it kind of makes you wonder what he is going to do about Martin, Ethier and Broxton, and if he truly wants them to stay, how is he going to make sure they stay? As the one article said, the meetings showed commitment to the youth. Well, how committed are they I wonder?
ooooooohhhhhhh!!! enchanted missed something – well, that's a first!!! LOL!!!!!!
Ned, Frank & Joe should all be committed…
We need pitching badly, but we don't hear CC or AJ or even Sheets. We hear Johnson, Pettitte and Garland. Why? Their experience? That's a crock.
…………….out to pasture….
….definitely, because CC, AJ, and Sheets have plenty of experience.
Good afternoon ITD boys and girls!
I know, I know, it's been a while since I was last here. I've been kinda sick lately – nothing too bad, but too many trips to, well, you know – TMI…
Anyways, I've had a few days to think after the Winter Meetings ended. Yeah, I was and still am frustrated that we didn't even offer CC a contract. I thought we did at one point or another, but I guess not. But I still believe that there was no way that CC would've signed with us, even IF we had offered 5 years guaranteed, with a 6th year option. I know that CC would've spitted on a 3 or 4-year deal from us, so, I'm not too heartbroken that we don't have him.
I don't believe for a second that Manny's going to retire. That's just his BS that he's trying to spew to get more $$$. I can't believe that Ned is actually considering a trade to get Cano. I say, emphatically, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO………………
But saying that, if we don't sign a QUALITY pitcher or two, I KNOW that we're like the proverbial boat on the river with no paddles – we are going nowhere; or, at least nowhere that's desirable! Jon Garland and Andy Pettitte wouldn't be bad pickups – just no old men like Randy Johnson…
Hey CP!!
The thing is, why are we looking at (why do we HAVE to look at) strictly back of the rotation has-beens? (Garland's not a has-been but clearly no one's clamoring for his services either.)
nsblues, it's funny you should mention the Cubs. I was thinking about them while I was reading your post. They've got serious economic issues of their own but that's another story….It is, indeed, strange that a club with our fan base can't seem to compete with teams that have less going for it than we do. Well, I guess, if all your dollars are tied up in Dodgerland: The Amusement Mall….. If, in fact, Frank & Ned are playing Redford and Newman in a baseball remake of "The Sting", we'll know soon enough. If they can't pull the trigger on deals for Manny and Furcal or sign some decent starting pitching, that would be a sure sign of trouble. If we don't make any strong moves, it's like I said earlier, don't pass Go, don't collect a playoff spot, and advance to 2010.
Enchanted ~ if we wanted good pitching, we would have spent some money……..but, Frank doesn't want to spend. Instead, he will charge us an arm and a leg to go to a game, charge us $5 or $6 for a lousy hot dog, and expect us to fill the stands.
enchanted…….because we are dealing with Frank and Ned is the reason why we are looking at options F,G and H instead of A,B and C, and I maybe be shooting to high with the options F,G, and H.
Nells – I'm relatively sure management's options pretty much cover F to U anyways…
Hi all. CP, are you ready for your interview this week? Been thinking of you and praying for you.
Regarding Enchanted's no doubt rhetorical question about why the Dodgers appear to be so hot to sign underachievers, I think it falls right in line with what we ITD'ers have been saying all along. We speak of commitment, excellence, building a dynasty. It seems to me that the front office hasn't adopted that view and would be happy with day-by-day mediocrity. If they desire success, especially for the future, then our minor league infrastructure wouldn't have been so badly depleted, especially as it had been last year. Maybe Frank doesn't want to succeed on the field. He's happy as long as he can stuff butts in the seats and talk his crooked talk. Maybe what he has is a fear of success.
But I also know that we love our team, no matter what! GO DODGERS!!
Good evening from the Mothership :)Juan Pierre is the best outfielder in baseball.
Ned made the correct decision in signing him as well as all his other moves…
Every move of every game that Joe made were the correct moves.
The kids are finally getting it. They are beginning to execute.
The McCourts are correct with their thoughts and observations on all things baseball related. It is insensitive to spend money on free agents when people are losing their homes and jobs, while at the same time charging higher ticket prices for a seat to a ST game and a towel is an awesome decision.
PVL's are the glue from the Dead Horsemen that held this team together last year.
Go Frank, Jamie, Ned, and Joe!!!
That's exactly what Frank is telling the fans, Enchanted! F to U is how I feel.
LMAO!!!!! Very good Dodger4life. You may come back down to Earth now.
It came to me in a vision last night Nelly,
I can't explain it…
Those Pina Coladas or Coronas must be something else!!!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!
Good evening ITD boys and girls!
Sorry for the short visit earlier, but my son needed a little help BBQing dinner tonight! I'm back!!!
Enchanted – Yeah, I hear you; why are we looking at the back of the rotation has-beens? Honestly, if we could've found a way to bring CC to our club using numbers that made sense (NOT 7 years, $161 mil), then I would've been ecstatic! That would've been an AWESOME rotation with CC, Billz, Kuroda, Kersh, & McDonald! I was just pointing out some alternatives, now that CC is gone. I mentioned Garland because (1) I KNOW D-Lowe doesn't want to come back and hence, won't be back and (2) we MUST replace him. The way I look at it is that Garland is someone that's flying under the radar right now, but just because he is, I don't necessary view that as a bad thing. I just see Garland as an innings-eater, kinda like Lowe. That's all. I just threw in Pettitte because he's younger than the old man Randy Johnson and I still think we could use a 2nd FA starter, even if he is Pettitte (and no, I'm not saying that Pettitte would be our #2 pitcher!!!)
But Nelly, I do wonder when did THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS start acting like they're the PITTSBURGH PIRATES??? Why are THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS looking at options F, G and H instead of A, B and C like you said???
Hey Diggie – I'm trying to get ready for my interview! Thx for praying for me; I could REALLY use it!
Hey Dodger4life is in the house!!!
Sorry Dodger4life; didn't see ya before!!! How are ya!!!
Hi CP,
How is everything????
The New York Post has reported that the Yankees's have interest in pursuing outfielder Manny Ramirez. If the Yankees are not able to sign Mark Texeira, they will for sure be trying to make a deal to bring outfielder Manny Ramirez to New York, says George A. King III of the New York Post
Hey Dodger4life! I'm doing fine. Just getting ready for this Tuesday. I've got a job interview Tuesday morning! All I ask is that you keep praying for me! I know you do and I REALLY appreciate it! So how was your trip on the Mothership??? 🙂
Oh jungar, no. If this is true, we won't even get Manny because the Yankees will be able to buy him with more $$$. Or else, we'll get stuck with Manny for the 5 or 6 or 7 years he wants. Oh, that is just depressing…
Now that I think of it, if the Yanks get involved with the Manny bidding, we just lost Manny…
I cant remember now North and Tom Petty saved the day!!!!
I will CP as alway's 🙂
Dodger4life – I love those songs sir ~ Life is good today 🙂
jungar – that is not good news at all.
Thx Dodger4life!!!
My Nellygirl!!! How are ya???
Well, kinda like what I said to Enchanted earlier about plan B (or in Nelly's terms, plans F, G and H) and starting pitchers, then what's gonna be our plan F, G and H if we can't sign Manny? No, don't tell me Adam Dunn…
Hey CP!!! I am doing great!!! My prayers are going out to you for your interview on Tuesday.
You know, many many years ago in the late 70's I believe, Bowie Kuhn nullified the sale of Vida Blue from the A's to the Reds as "not in the best interests of baseball." If the Yankees end up with Manny as well as CC and AJ, how can their spending $350 million (or so) be in the best interests of baseball?
Baseball needs a salary cap. The luxury tax is a joke.
Thx Nelly! So how's school going? I'm curious to see are you still taking your kids around the US ballparks? If so, where are you???
enchanted – this will be absolutely ridiculous if this really happens.
Unfortunately Enchanted, I think the time for MLB operating "in the best interests of baseball" flew out the window when our friend, our pal Bud Selig took the office…
Yes, we are!! However, I had to take this last two weeks off because we are doing the winter program this year, but we were not baseball free. My class learned the entire version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as it was a challenge from Dodgereric. They did a fantastic job!!! So, when we get back in January, we are heading into Kansas City, and then into Los Angeles for the Angels and the Dodgers.
I mean, this "luxury tax" thing was supposed to limit or curtail this free spending like the Yankees are doing. Well, the Yankees could care less about this and will continue to spend freely on anyone they desire. God forbid, but if they end up with Manny, to me, it's not going to be the Dodger's fault. Whoever coined the phrase, "The Evil Empire" to mean the NY Yankees is a genius. (I know, Reagan used that term for another place, but I digress).
Manny's (and Borass too) all about money. He'll fit right in in NY.
I'd imagine that if the league put it to a vote, a salary cap would pass 28-2, the 2 being NY and Boston.
I agree about Selig CP. They might as well have gotten Wally Cox or Don Knotts.
We as fan's need our own agent!!!!
Great Nelly! Kansas City, huh? I've been at that park once. Pretty – especially those waterfalls in the outfield! And funny enough, a place where you can end up sitting right behind home for $8 apiece! You ask me, "CP, how can you do that?" I've gotta tell you something.
In July 2007, my husband and I were vacationing in the Midwest. On our way from IA to Branson MO, we made a stop in Kansas City. We had a room close by, so we checked in and then headed to the ballpark to buy tickets. You know, the Royals were a lousy team then (and still are, but they're getting better). My husband said that we could buy tickets that day and get decent seats because they are such a bad team. Plus, it's the Midwest and the game could easily be rained-out and we were only in KC for one day.
Well, when we went to the ballpark, that day was the day that they were play, of all teams, the NY Yankees. And of course, A-Rod was sitting on 499 HRs, so the place was packed! We did get to see the game, but we got SRO (standing-room-only) "seats" for $8 each (I believe). Well, we stood behind the seats directly behind the plate. After about the 3rd or 4th inning, a bunch of businessmen in their business suits up and left for some meeting they had to go to. So we sat in those seats for the rest of the game! That's how we ended up sitting right behind home for $8 apiece!
Agents for the fans – LOL!!!!! Now, there's a concept 🙂
CP – Wow!!!! That's incredible!!!!
No scented towel??
Oh the humanity!!!
Yeah Enchanted – Manny is ALL about the al-mighty buck… I know what he did for the Dodgers, and I appreciate EVERYTHING he did for the Dodgers, but this is just ridiculous…
LMAO!!!!!! enchanted and Dodger4life are on a roll tonight. What have you boys been drinking?
Nelly – I thought you'd like that story!!! But I re-read my story and boy, red pen marks everywhere!!!
Hey enchanted!!! You will appreciate this since you know my area somewhat. It is predicted that we are supposed to get snow sometime in the next couple of days. I am taking pictures for sure if that happens. It has only happened a few times in my lifetime here in Merced.
Oh, and I forgot to mention in my KC story above, each of us got t-shirts commemorating the date when George Brett's famous "pine-tar" case! We also got "election pins" because Denny Matthews, KC's most famous announcer, was elected into the HOF! And if you're wondering, no, I don't have a good memory (to remember Denny Matthews' name) – I have a leftover button sitting right next to my computer!
Nells – I recall it snowing once at 4-corners there on Hwy 41, but never remember hearing that it snowed in Fresno, Madera or Merced. That's pretty neat. Its a shock when we get snow here, and it never stays more than an hour or so. Funny though there was 3 inches on the ground in El Paso last winter (about 45 miles south of LC), but we didn't get any here that day.
CP – That is too funny!!!
Oakhurst and Mariposa are supposed to get snow for sure so the snow level is definitely dropping pretty good. I guess we will find out in the next few days.
Nelly – We were supposed to get rain this weekend, but it never happened! Everyone I knew was getting ready for the rain that never happened!
Nelly I have 3 inches in the yard. I will put it in a Pepsi can and mail it to you 🙂
You know, there's a different way we can look at the premier FA situation… there are at least 26 other teams in the same boat as we are, and we only have to compete with one of them (Mets.) So within our own division we can probably get by with the Johnsons, Pettittes and Garlands of the world.
Dodger4life – I finally got my fire tonight, so I am nice and toasty warm for a change. It is raining and cold outside. However, feel free to send the snow my way. I will make you a snowball and send it back 🙂
Besides, what's Dodger baseball nowadays without a batch of PVL dead horses to write songs about?
That is a very good point enchanted. The whole NL seems pretty quiet right now.
It does make song writing more enjoyable for some reason.
I hope you get some snow for yourself Nelly. I'm glad you have a fire going 🙂
Yeah – who could stand winning all the time???
Sell the team Frank! I'll even give you the $5 back of your own money that you put into it when you bought it.
But y'all know, I do wonder when did we get "content" to being a mediocre team? This is the LOS ANGELES DODGERS not the Pittsburgh Pirates…
I am glad I have a fire going too, and yes, it would be fun to see snow in the morning even if it is temporary.
I'm just hoping that they REALLY do have something up their sleeve that'll knock our socks off! NOT…
It's not that I don't want the Dodgers to knock my socks off, my "NOT" means that they probably won't knock my socks off…
I'm getting a little tired at staring at this computer. I think it's time for me to go. It was fun talking with y'all!!! I'll catch up with y'all later…
Good -Night CP 🙂
We will be praying…
Knock thier sock's off 🙂
I knew exactly what you were talking about 🙂
enchanted – He really does have to sell the team if the Dodgers are going to remain a big market team in terms of players. However, what is he going to care if he is still selling tickets to the fans who really don't know that their money could be going to the Manny's and CC's of the baseball world and not Dodgerland or 42 ballparks for the youth of Los Angeles only. He will continue to make his money just putting out our wonderful young core with the "been there, done that" veterans.
Good Night CP!!!!! Take care and good luck!!!
"He's shown signs he can do it and he's shown signs he's not ready to do it yet," Colletti said — and have expressed an interest in signing Trevor Hoffman.
Gee thanks Jerkoff, Merry Christmas to you to…says Broxton.
Ethier is like ho, ho, ho, Hoffman is my Luis Gonzales.
Kemp is like ho, ho, ho I got two presents, Jones and Pierre, ho, ho, ho
Loney is like ho, ho, ho, he, he, he I got Nomar
Billingsley is like Ho, Ho, Ho I got Tomko
LMAO!!!!!! There's nothing to add to that one jungar.
BRING BACK THE BLUE CREW!!!!! They might decide to give us back the Blue Crew Club and use the money it would take to sign Manny to change the name back 🙂 We are talking Ned and Frank here…..
northstateblues – How is the studying going?
Here's to thinking the Dodger's will commit less error's than there counterpart's this coming season.
Sign Raffy ~ Sign and come share in the joy 🙂
Manny the time is now 🙂
Here's to our young guns reaching and surpassing personal bests in all areas.
I second that !!!!!!!!!!
raise your glasses for a toast……..
With $243.5 million committed to Sabathia and Burnett, however, the newspaper concedes the Yanks might not stay in the game with Teixeira, who is expected to command at least eight years and $160 million when the ink dries on his contract. Ramirez, at 36, might exceed Teixeira's annual salary, but for only three or four years, if widespread speculation is accurate.
"If they can't get Teixeira, they are right there on Manny," an official with knowledge of the Yankees' plans told George King of the Post.
"[Chairman] Hank [Steinbrenner] wants him, but he isn't alone in the organization," the Post report added, alluding to a source. "They need somebody to protect Alex [Rodriguez]."
With 18 million committed to Casey Blake and Mark Loretta, the dodgers do not have the money to go after the best in his prime gold glover and best hitter on the market or even the 37 Manny Ramirez but Frank McCourt wants him.
A source inside the orginization said "We need someone to protect Casey [Blake]"
They need someone to protect who?…………are you kidding me?!?!!! Oh my goodness. It just gets worse and worse doesn't it?
A toast to all the Young Guns and Andruw finding his swing this winter 🙂
I think it's best if all members of the Dodger management team keep their mouths shut. Either the press is taking everything they are saying and twisting it or if this is really what they are saying, it is very, very sad that they think Casey Blake is the answer for this team. I mean I have nothing against Casey, he is a good ball player at the major league level, but he is not anything beyond that.
with that being said………I am with Dodger4life – a toast to all the young guns and hoping Andruw finds his swing.
LMAO jungar – that was funnier than hell !!!
Good night all – sorry I disappeared – was making a corgi calendar for my wife. Catch you allz later.
Good -Night E 🙂
Have a wonderful day tommorrow 🙂
awwww!!!! That must be some cute calendar 🙂 Good night and take care enchanted 🙂
Ned: What we have here, is FAILURE to contractualate. Some men you just cain't sign. So you get what we have here today [nothing] which is the way Frank wants it. Well, he GETS it. I don't like it any more than you fans.
Frank: Sometimes nuthin' can be a real cheap, I mean cool hand…
Had to get that out of my system – now I'm truely outta here.
Later D4 & Nells. Catch you on the morrow.
LMAO!!!!!! enchanted – good night again!!!
That was made up Deb…relax!! To think a 250 million dollar player needs protection. And to think they just spent 243 million, might not be able to spend another 160 million so will settle and (outbid us) on a 3 year deal for Manny at say only 75 million. And this is saying nothing of contracts such as a guy like Jeter who alone has more all star apperances than our entire roster.
Oh no…….. thanks for clarifying that. Dodgereric will take delight in seeing that I fell for it 🙂 LOL!!!!!!
This place make's me laugh….
You all are just too funny 🙂
ITD is # 1 in my book 🙂
LOL!!!! I can't believe I fell for that!!!! Geez!!!!!! You are right dodger4life…..this place does make me laugh too.
Can't stay long, but I've been reading today, and it's been a great day of conversation on here. There is a certain gloomy feeling that, even though we might not be able to spend like the Yankees (or the Red Sox, or the Orioles, or the Tomateros), our fearless leaders are showing their hand to the press, saying "What can I do with this many? What's an A with a shamrock underneath mean?". "Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick"? Yeah right. "Joke loudly, and wave goodbye to Big Stick".
Another fine mess…
Bravo North!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the Lorax, movie that is…….. It's good to see you northstateblues 🙂
Good Night Northstateblues!!!! Good Luck with the studying and your finals on Tuesday 🙂
Good Night ITF readers and writers!!! Thanks for the great reading, songs and laughs, and I will see you in the morning!!!!! God Bless all of you 🙂
Good – Night Nelly and North,
Good -Night Dodgerfaithful and may God Bless Us All
Stay Positive ~ Keep Believing ~ Every Little Thing's Gonna Be Alright ~ We Have Turn It Around Before And We Will Turn It Around Again.
Good Morning ITD ~ Another dreary, rainy day here. I need Enchanted and Dodgereric to brighten my day!
Good Morning Tru- super rainy here too. It's raining so hard and its been non-stop all night. I am very thankful that I do not have to commute to work. Cold and rainy…Christmas is coming 🙂 Yay!!
Amy ~ great to see you! Can't wait for Christmas.
Yeah its raining heavy here in south OC. Like Andruw Jones HEAVY.
well I guess the good thing about the storm is that all the skiers and snowboarders finally get some real snowfall. Me personally, and a sunshine/ warm person. The rain is too cold and messy. Oh well…it just means cocoa and cookies at work 🙂
So…Dodgers, sign anyone good lately?
Gooooooood morning, ITD!!
Not since Kirk Gibson, amy…….. 😦
Nick Willhite who played with the Dodgers from 63 – 67 passed away yesterday, December 14th due to cancer.
My condolences james. Thank you for letting us know and to Nick for being part of our Dodger history.
Hmmm……..the Yankees aren't the only ones working on stadium costs……..
"Major League Baseball also allows teams to deduct many of their new stadium costs from the revenue-sharing pie. For a team like the Yankees, with a $1.8 billion monument to excess opening next year, that's worth untold millions. Finally, like so many unsympathetic, if absurdly profitable companies, the Yankees got all their government subsidies (including $70 million toward a new parking structure, $65 million for roadwork and design, $91 million for a new railroad station and about $313 million in tax breaks alone) before the recession.
Now that's hate-able. But it's also good business."
I echo enchanted's condolences, James. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Dodger Blue is a little Bluer today.
Shouldn't the good people of NY be up in arms that an entity like the Yankees that can obviously afford to pay it, gets $313 million in tax breaks that these same good people have to make up for out of their own wallets?
Eric- too bad. I was just talking to Sara over the potential loss of Chan Ho. He was such a pleasant surprise for us his season and that's one more person off our team. I want some action I say…sign some good players. Give Raffy what he wants!
James ~ My prayers go out to you and your family. God Bless!
You would think enchanted, especially if you are not a fan of the Yankees or baseball.
Just another good reason why baseball needs a salary cap.
enchanted – Is there any talk of a salary cap? If not, then there certainly should be.
You guys were so supposed to cheer me up……..now, I'm more depressed than ever! I don't think we will ever get a salary cap because of the players union……they want all the money they can get.
I'll vote for a salary cap in baseball. I'm with you all the way, e. What the Yankees are doing is definitely NOT in the best interests of Major League Baseball. Of course it sounds like sour grapes coming from the mouths of fans of other teams with no money to spend like McCourt. But that doesn't make it any less true.
Selig needs to be wearing a disclaimer that says, "Paid for by the NY Yankees". Has there ever been a more gutless commissioner?
And on the subject of tax breaks, does anyone else around here seeth inside while watching those commercials with those people bragging how much money they saved by making a deal with the IRS? You know, "We owed the IRS $10,000,000 and we settled for $1.98!" And they have those s**t-eating grins on their faces. They ought to be in prison for tax evasion, not making TV commercials.
Good afternoon ITD,
My thought's and prayer's go out to the Willhite family.
Sorry Tru! How's this?
If one doctor doctors another doctor does the doctor who doctors the doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor he is doctoring doctors? Or does the doctor doctor the way the doctor who doctors doctors?
That's much better. Thanks Eric!
Eric – sounds like Ned and his creative contract for Furcal…
I get irritated too with those IRS commercials – its like they get to cheat and get away with it while Jimmy and Sally have their wages garnished for owing $500. Besides that, how much must those people make to OWE $250,000?
No way Fehr and the union ever let a salary cap into baseball. The Players Union (that's PU for obvious reasons) would rather drive the league out of business before conceding something for the good of all. Hell, they still generally oppose steroid testing. Then you have a ding-dong owner like Steinbrenner who's one and only true love is himself and the need for his own self-glorification and to hell with anyone else. Be a great league when the only two teams left are NY and Boston.
The PU stinks, Enchanted!
Maybe we should come up with a union of our own: The F.U. — Fans Union.
LMAO Tru – good one!!
Our local chapter can be the Dodger Observers Guild – Dominion of Oversight or DOG-DOO [for having been treated like Schmidt lately.]
Guess we'll need a charter now. We've already paid our dues by having to watch this team the past 21 years.
Perfect, Echanted. Since you are the GM, you can have your charter. DOG-DOO shall live forever! And, from the movie "Network" ………"We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore"!
LMAO!!!!!! I see our sense of humor is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well then Nells, being secretary to the GM I guess you'll always get the scoop on DOG-DOO happenings.
How about the Fan's Union – Yer Allowed No Kontracts Society?
That chapter's particularly strong in Boston Eric!
See, I knew you could get it done! If only the Dodger management team ran as smoothly as our "Team" does, we'd be in great shape.
Fan's Union – Brotherhood Of Stooping To Outlandish Nogood
Don't like them Beaneaters much either…….
Hard to believe that we're harder up for money than the A's.
"The A's are believed to believed to be back in the bidding for Rafael Furcal for about $40 million over four years. And it might be hard for him to turn that down — or rather, turn that down again.
While other markets have been slow, the shortstop market has been moving. If Furcal finally agrees to take Oakland's deal, the Dodgers may turn to Orlando Cabrera, who thrived two years ago with the Angels and has been one of the more overlooked players in this market.
Furcal is believed to prefer a return to the Braves or Dodgers, but the Braves have young Yunel Escobar for shortstop and the Dodgers never planned to go longer than two years for Furcal, a terrifically-talented player who missed four months after back surgery last year."
OK, it took a little digging, but I finally came up with Mr. Potamus' line in the Dominican Winter Leagues:
Anyone find 5 K's in 11 PAs distressing?, especially when it isn't even against 100% ML talent?
I find everything about Andruw distressing! If Furcal wants 4 years, he will take the deal.
I'd take Cabrera for a couple years if they don't feel Hu or DeJesus is ready. Anything but trading for Wilson.
I find it distressing that we've lost Nomar, Jeff, Saito, Lowe, Park, Proctor, Penny, etc. and we've signed Blake and Loretta.
Well, we won't give Furcal 4-years. So, maybe that would work, Enchanted.
enchantedGM – I will make sure I keep up with the crap :)…and yes, Andruw's K's are just a tad distressing.
Ward Dear…… Well, if he signs with the A's then I will get to see him more often, and I know a neighbor friend who would love to see him play for the A's, since she is a Braves fan as well. It certainly does appear they have more money then the Dodgers, doesn't it? First, Matt Holliday and now Furcal…..the west coast Yankees (jk) LOL!!!!
I have given the purchase of Dodger Season Tickets top priority – as long as they accept my offer of $200.
Eric, I'd pay $150, laden with performance incentives that could drive the price up to $350, with an August 1st opt-out clause if the deadline dealings weren't satisfactory.
Of course, I'll never get it. I'm only 28, I'll have to wait 12 more years before I hear back.
Well, I'm 55. So I stand a pretty good chance.
Then, I am a sure-thing!
I"m 43 out of shape and can strike -out from both sides of the plate 🙂
Andruw Jones could strike out in a women's prison holding a fistful of pardons.
The D's marketing should put together a ticket package for those who holdout until the 3rd inning and opt out in the 7th.
In fact, they could triple their attendance by selling packages innings 1 to 3, 4 to 6 and 7 to 9. Frank's got lots of experience with parking lots, let him deal with the ingress and egress out of the stadium. Give him a chance to do something he's good at.
LMAO, Dodger4life and Enchanted!!!
This just in…
The F.U. is organizing a Player's union ~ wienie and nut roast to kick-off the new year.
Site and Date, not yet determined???
Newsletter's to go out soon 🙂
CHOWCHILLA, CA – Dodgers centerfielder Andruw Jones, armed with a fistful of pardons was seen entering Valley State Prison Women's Correctional Facility visitors entrance around 9:00 AM this morning. He exited the facility shortly thereafter with a smirk, still holding the pardons and murmuring I don't care what the inmates think. Witnesses inside the prison say he was occasionally getting a piece of a hard one, but ultimately just flailed away at every down and out parolee he saw.
From Yahoo Sports:
Free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal will accept an offer from one of four teams by Tuesday, his agent, Paul Kinzer, said Monday afternoon.
Furcal is considering offers from the Oakland A's, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals and one other team, Kinzer said, adding that the Toronto Blue Jays no longer are in the bidding.
The A's are believed to be the only team in for four years, at about $40 million. The Dodgers, concerned whether Furcal's back will hold up over the course of a long-term deal, have offered a two-year contract with a vesting option for a third season. Kinzer recently asked the Dodgers to consider guaranteeing the third year.
Asked if, as things stand, he would take the A's offer, Kinzer said, "I can't say that yet."
He added, "We're going to make a decision soon. By (Tuesday)."
I'll be sure to keep my calendar open……..nothing beats a good weenie and nuts!
Chowchilla??? LMAO!!!!! Hey, enchanted, Mariposa got 3 inches of snow last night and they are expected to get 12 inches tonight that means Oakhurst is going to be nice and white too.
My condolences as well to the Willhite family.
The discussion about a salary cap is interesting. I believe the other major sports have them although I defy anyone to explain how the caps work with all the exceptions, franchise players, etc. The players union would fight such a concept tooth and nail arguing there is no need since the game as a whole seems strong financially. In essance a salary cap of sorts already exists: the willingness (or stupidness) of major league owners to pay these high salaries and a luxary tax put on some arbitrary amount a team can pay. A lot of good that has done.
New Thread 🙂