Tag: Los Angeles Dodgers (Page 6 of 30)

      Dodgers inquire about Lee and Oswalt, but are they serious about making a move?

      May 27, 2010 /

      According to the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers have asked the Mariners about starter Cliff Lee and the Astros about ace Roy Oswalt, although a trade of any sort seems unlikely at this point.

      Even if the Dodgers were to agree to take on salary, the chances of a trade could depend on how deeply the Mariners and Astros wish to rebuild. The Dodgers’ top prospects are at the lower levels of the minor leagues, so the team would be an unlikely trade partner should the Mariners or Astros want a trade package to feature talent ready for the major leagues.

      The Mariners might demand a more attractive prospect package because a half-season of Lee would come at $4.5 million. That would be one-fifth the cost of Oswalt, who is signed through 2011 — or one-ninth, if Oswalt asked the Dodgers to pick up a 2012 option in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause, for a total financial commitment of $39.5 million.

      Even if a trade is unlikely to go down, it’s amazing to think that the Mariners could trade Lee this year. When they acquired him from the Phillies last winter, the hope was that he and Felix Hernandez would form the best 1-2 punch in baseball. But the M’s offense has been so bad this year that not even Lee or King Felix can do anything to help the club. Seattle has scored the least amount of runs in the American League and the second least in baseball. Only the Astros have scored fewer runs in the majors this season.

      Getting back to the Dodgers, I wonder if this is their way to appease their fans after a lackluster offseason. Due to Frank McCourt’s ongoing battle with Jamie McCourt, the team didn’t break out their checkbook this past winter and fans weren’t too pleased with that given how close the club was to competing for a World Series last year. But if the Dodgers make it public that they’re interested in Lee and Oswalt, then it gives their fans the impression that they’re still willing to make a big move in order to win.

      It’ll be interesting to see whether or not L.A.’s name comes up again if/when the Mariners and Astros put Lee and Oswalt on the market.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

      Sports Illustrated lists its Top 20 all-time sportscasters

      May 15, 2010 /

      Sports Illustrated put out this list of what it believes to be the Top 20 all-time sportscasters. Some of these guys are before my time, but unfortunately, most of them are not. Anyway, here is the list and a snappy comment or two, as well as who they missed and who I’m glad is not on here:

      1. Jim McKay—The Bob Costas of his time. McKay hosted ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” as well as The Olympics. It’s hard to argue with putting him on top here, but it’s also easy to argue for a few of these others to be #1.

      2. Vin Scully—If I hear ol’ Vin doing a game on TV, and with the MLB package it’s nice to still hear him doing Dodgers’ games, I don’t care who is playing….I stop and watch, and listen. It’s just comforting to hear the guy’s voice, which was made for broadcasting baseball.

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      Barstool Debates, External Sports, Television

      Frank McCourt to owe Jamie $637,159 a month

      May 8, 2010 /

      Carla Hall of the Los Angeles Times has confirmed that Dodgers owner Frank McCourt will owe estranged wife Jamie $637,159 a month in temporary spousal support, as per a ruling by a local Superior Court judge.

      The amount that Judge Scott Gordon decided upon falls short of the $988,845 that Jamie McCourt requested. More than half that requested amount ($568,829), her lawyers said, is needed to pay the costs, including mortgages, of seven homes and an eighth piece of property in Mexico that are listed in her name. Her lawyers argued that spousal support should include those costs since her estranged husband used to contribute funds to the housing.

      The judge specified that $412,159 of the monthly total should go to payment of costs associated with the properties, but ordered the property in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to be sold.

      Josh Fisher of Dodger Divorce did the math and concluded that, with retroactive fees from December, Jamie will end up receiving $6,371,590 from Frank through September.

      The Los Angeles Dodgers are not the Pittsburgh Pirates, and nowhere is this more evident than in their fans’ lack of patience. Given the team’s last place record of 13-16 in arguably MLB’s weakest division, things are already getting nasty. Also, when the area’s leading publication is constantly ripping the both the team’s play and its ownership, it isn’t a good sign for one of the country’s two largest sports markets.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

      What’s happening to the Dodgers’ farm system?

      May 2, 2010 /

      In an informative piece for the Los Angeles Times, Bill Shaikin speaks with Dodgers scout Logan White about the state of the team’s farm system. Team owners Frank and Jamie McCourt are in the midst of a divorce, causing an obviously negative financial situation, yet White claims this is not affecting how he drafts.

      “I don’t want people to think that because we’re not spending the money the way some teams are, we’re not getting players,” he said. “That is so far from the truth.”

      Baseball America, the bible of player development, ranked the Dodgers among the top 10 in minor league talent from 2004 to 2008, then dropped that ranking to 23rd last year and 24th this year.

      That happens, of course, when the likes of Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw graduate to the major leagues. That also happens, though, when the Dodgers spend the least of any major league club in the last two drafts, and when the Dodgers do not account for any of the 115 international signings over $100,000 in 2008.

      “There’s a difference between cheap and wise,” White said. “I like to think we’re wise.”

      It’s remarkable how everyone in the Dodger organization is denying that the McCourt divorce is a problem for the progression of the team. White is a smart guy, but even though he says the team has the proper funds, Dodger fans know better.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

      Dodgers’ GM rips Kemp for defensive effort

      April 28, 2010 /

      While recently appearing on Peter Tilden’s radio program on 790 KABC-AM, Dodgers’ GM Ned Colletti had some harsh words for his last place team and even went as far as to criticize star player Matt Kemp.

      From the Press Enterprise:

      “Why is it? Because he got a new deal?” Colletti said in reference to Kemp’s new two-year, $10.95 million contract. “Can’t tell you. But you know, it’s below-average. If this is the last day of the season and people are voting for the Gold Glove, his name is not even on the ballot. It’s a shame that he would go from where he was a year ago to revert back to when the ball goes up in the air and you’re not sure where it’s going, or if it’s going to get caught.”

      Colletti has every right to be upset with the Dodgers’ play so far this season. The defending NL West champs are 8-12 on the year and 3-7 in their last 10 games. They’ve already lost series against the Pirates, Nationals and Reds, and own a brutal 4-10 mark on the road.

      That said, he knows better than to try and motivate a player through the media. If he wants to criticize Kemp behind closed doors fine, but to publicly out one of his best players wasn’t smart. Plus, it undermines what Joe Torre is trying to accomplish in the clubhouse.

      Motivation can be a great thing when it comes from the right person. But something tells me Colletti isn’t the right person.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

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