October 6, 2008 38 Comments

Get ‘Outta Town Arte, I’m On Top!

You Supply The Dialogue!

You may Subscribe to Comments RSS or Trackback this entry.

38 comments so far

DRomo October 7, 2008 1:04 am

Where do I start?

Knock ,Knock
Who’s there?
Hoosier
Hoosier who?
WHO’S YOUR DADDY!!

Another first round exit for the Angels and their bandwagon fans.

The Patriots said you celebrated too early, Go hang another division championship banner next to the hall of famers from other teams in your stadium.We will just hang World Championships and our own HOFers.

OK, I got that off my chest.

Let’s concentrate on the Dodgers. Game 1 is huge. WE MUST STRIKE EARLY!!
Michael October 7, 2008 7:09 am

Everybody knows that there is only one team in LA.
Michael October 7, 2008 7:25 am

Hey Arte old buddy, maybe you should change your name to the Tinkerbell Angels of Neverneverland in the OC. P.S. When the Dodgers win it all we will see you at Disneyland! Go Dodgers:]
Mark October 7, 2008 7:37 am

Hey Arte,

Enjoy the vacation with your pal, Hal Stienbrenner.
Blue Haze October 7, 2008 7:44 am

Owner A: If winning makes me money, I am all about winning. If winning loses me money, then do you want to make me a cash deal for my current stars?

Owner B: I hear that, who do you got available?
Bill Russell October 7, 2008 8:17 am

I think I need some coffee to figure out the above mentioned subject. I just read that Boras is asking 5 years $85 million for Manny. We were all thinking 3 years $70 to $75 million last week. So why would this be out of line? Can’t we front load the first three years at say $60 million and then ship him to the AL for the last two years at $12.5 million per year if his defense becomes a liability? I don’t think this price is out of line like everyone is saying. Manny loves LA and LA loves Manny. This may go higher is the Dodgers bring home the Championship.
DRomo October 7, 2008 9:27 am

I like that idea Russ. I think the McCourts are realizing they have no choice but to re-sign Man Ram!
Mark October 7, 2008 9:31 am

I would do 4 years/$80 mil - what’s wrong with that?
Bill Russell October 7, 2008 9:48 am

Why not the extra year at $5 million and be done with it?
Blue Haze October 7, 2008 10:11 am

DRomo, Man Ram just sounds wrong! (also avoid all “Tea bag” references as well).

If we can sign a used up and fading CF for $18 mil a year, then Manny would be a bargain at any of those above mentioned prices. I mentioned this before but McCourt doesn’t really have much of a choice, he will have to sign Manny (unless Borass goes nuclear with his requests), to not do so will just send a signal to the fans that McCourt really doesn’t have winning as a top priority. Don’t forget McCOurt is competing with another owner that has done all he can do and spend to put a winner on the field every year. If by some chance, McCourt passes and Manny were to sign with the Angels, well I hope there is a huge fire insurance policy on Dodger Stadium, any Dodger office buildings and the McCourt’s home, because the fans will sack the city.

Now on to the actually game on the field:

What is the feeling about the Dodgers RH pitching going against a LH power hitting team? Anyone want to make any bold predictions (okay no Destiny type predictions, those are a given)?

Does Kershaw get a start, should the lefties start going off on our starters?

Speaking of destiny, anyone a little nervous about facing Jason Werth, he has been hot and I’m sure would love to “Man Ram” it to the Dodgers?

Where are the daily bitching posts about Ned?

Why is all the credit for the Dodgers recent offensive surge only going to Manny, need I remind you about a fuzzy little fellow named Don Mattingly? I personally think that Mattingly has had a huge effect on the Dodgers working the count and having an actually plan for each at bat. I don’t think Manny preaches those fundamentals in his instructional lectures. Manny has a basic philosophy, have fun, see the ball, hit the ball, have fun.
Bill Russell October 7, 2008 10:35 am

If we are going to give credit for someone other then Manny, I’m giving it to Loney and Furcal. Loney for his recent clutch hitting and Furcal for carrying us the first 6 weeks of the regular season. Not to mention that he crawled of the operating table just a few short weeks ago to give us leadership, playoff experience and dazzling defense at shortstop. Furcal has made us a much stronger team for the playoffs. He is the true leadoff hitter we were sorely missing. Berroa was doing fine batting 8th and playing decent defense but he’s no Furcal.
Mark October 7, 2008 10:48 am

Don’t forget Russ Martin for his clutch hitting, onfield-leadership and handling of the pitching staff. We might not have won without Loney or Furcal… or Manny, but Russell was also stellar!
DRomo October 7, 2008 11:26 am

Blue Haze, Manny has had the Man Ram nickname for a long time. Sorry if you don’t like it. I didn’t make it up.

I don’t want to worry about next season or the offseason yet. We will have all winter for that. We only have 2 weeks to enjoy this season, let’s not waste it!!

Tomorrow is the biggest game of the season!!
lawdog October 7, 2008 1:16 pm

Borass wants 5 years for 85 million????

That’s a bargain when you consider he’s getting 20 mill per now and had two options implode for probably similar money. Grab it now! Make Frank and Ned dearly beloved Dog men!

18 mil per is Judy Jones m oney. Manny’s worth 20+mil for 3 years. That means we get him for 12 million per for the last two years and he gets no raise over 20 mil per the first three years.

Do it! Mannyman will be worth more than Pierre money when he’s 40 and 41 (the last two years of the deal.)

DO IT NOW!!!
lawdog October 7, 2008 1:40 pm

Errr… that’s 12.5 million for the last two years if the first 3 years are worth $60 million.

Minor mistake. Sign him up before Bora$$ gets a better bid!
lawdog October 7, 2008 1:41 pm

12.5/per
Blue Haze October 7, 2008 3:44 pm

Damn dude, chill, I was just having some fun with the nickname, damn! A little touchy today? No worries, It just seemed from your other posts that you liked to joke around a little bit, I must have been mistaken, we can keep it all business if it is better for ya.
Blue Haze October 7, 2008 3:55 pm

Moving right along, Blue Haze says it this morning and the Dodgers.com writers get busy and post an article this afternoon about. Take a look at the Colletti article (Warning to Colletti-bashers: you may not want to see this. “See Ostrich”)

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081007&content_id=3601061&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la

(How’s my bombastic post looking, MM? Now I know that you know that I am teasing).
Bill Russell October 7, 2008 5:31 pm

I guess Romo’s not one for homo jokes.
Seinfeld disclaimer - “Not that there’s anything wrong with it”
mark October 7, 2008 5:42 pm

In a nutshell:

1. We are stuck with A Jones - he will be on the team next year;
2. We can and will trade Pierre - we won’t get a lot, but we will dump his contract; ($8 mil)
3. Nomar and Kent are gone ($18 mil)
4. Schmidt will hopefully be able to pitch
5. Lowe & Penny are gone ($19 mil)
6. Raffy will sign a 1-year deal for $5 mil plus incentatives, plus a 2-year option at $12 mil a year.
7. We will sign Manny $20 mil a year.
8. We will sign Sabbathia for $22 mil a year
9. Blake Walks
10. Saito Walks

Next Years Lineup:

1. Furcal SS
2. Martin C
3. Manny LF
4. Ethier RF
5. Kemp CF
6. Loney 1B
7. DeWitt 3B
8. DeJesus 2B

Starters:
1. C-Bill
2. Sabbathia
3. Kershaw
4. Kuroda
5. McDonald/Schmidt
Bill Russell October 7, 2008 5:50 pm

I’m greedy, I want O Dog at 2B moving DeWitt to 3rd. Keep DeJesus warming on the back burner for now.
mark October 7, 2008 6:47 pm

It’s OK to be greedy in this case, but the “O-Dog” is going to cost $10+ mil a year and we alreadt have a better #2 hitter. Manny, CC and Furcal will cost us $60+ mil next year. We don’t have an extra $10 mil laying around. If we lose Pierre, Kent, Nomar, Penny, Blake, Lowe and Saito that saves us near that. We can’t afford a 2B at that price unless you want to give up Manny, CC or Raffy or can trade AJ.
mark October 7, 2008 6:48 pm

… like that will happen.
Michael October 7, 2008 7:17 pm

I think Frank should pay Andy Jones the $18 mil to take over Jose Limas’ role as cheerleader. P.S. Jason Shiit has about as good of chance actually earning his paycheck next season as the $18 million dollar man smacking 50 HR.
Bill Russell October 7, 2008 7:21 pm

Ok boys , Lets do some math.
Coming off the books next year
Kent 9 mil
Furcal 13 mil
Penny 9.5 mil
Lowe 10 mil
Loaiza 7 mil
Sweeney & Bennet 1.5 mil
Saito 2 mil
Nomar 8.5mil
Tomko 1 mil
Grady Little & Bill Mueller 1.5 mil
Odalis Perez & Randy Wolf 1.5 mil
If Pierre is Traded 8 mil
Total 72.5 mil

Added
Furcal 10 mil
Manny 20 mil
CC - your math 22 mil
O Dog 12 mil
Total 64 mil.
8 mil left over.
mark October 7, 2008 7:58 pm

I forgot about the guys off the roster. OK, do it!
Ryan October 7, 2008 8:10 pm

Dialogue:

McCourt: Arte, did you hear my boys won their first playoff series in 20 years?!

Arte: Yeah, I did. Maybe your fans will forgive you now for a** raping them on parking and ticket fees. You know, when I moved to town the first thing I did was lower the price of beer at the stadium. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/sep2007/db20070925_408918.htm?chan=top+news_special+report+–+the+power+100_special+report+

Now on to the payroll…

I read that article in the Rocky Mountain Times that Robert Timm posted over on tha Dugout. There is no chance (Repeat, NO CHANCE) that Boras will allow Manny to sign for 5 years, $85 mil. That’s a $3 mil per year pay cut from Manny’s BoSox option.

We WILL sign CC Sabathia (if Zito got 7 years and $126 Mil, look for CC to get 6 years and $125 Mil)

We WILL re-sign Furcal (he got 3 years and $39 mil last go-around. Look for something a little more lucrative as all of Torre’s comments on how he “never realized how good of a player Furcal was” will be used against us)

We WILL NOT sign Manny. Mark my words, after putting up 53 RBI’s in 53 games, getting the Dodgers into the NLCS and, god willing, the World Series, the asking price for Manny will be $150 Million - 6 years at $25mil per year. And, after missing the post season this year, Hank Steinbrenner will be dumb enough to pay it.

Did you guys all read the Bill Simmons piece on Manny? If you didn’t because of length (and it was a LONG ONE), you only need to read the last paragraph:

From Manny Being Manipulated…

Let’s pretend you were Boras last spring. First, grow fangs and imagine you sleep in a coffin. Second, divorce yourself from all parameters of human decency. (Concentrate on those dollars signs. Keep concentrating. Block everything else out.) Third, convince yourself the relationship between a player and his fans, no matter how long it has been cultivated, doesn’t matter even remotely. Fourth, keep reminding yourself, as long as you can weasel Manny out of that ‘09 option with Boston, you’re looking at a four-year contract elsewhere for $80-100 million … as well as a big fat commission for yourself. You feeling it? You feeling like Boras yet? (Touch your new fangs to be sure.) Well, here’s how you handle the “best interests” of your client: By molding Manny like a piece of cancerous Play-Doh. Maybe you start feeding him lines like, “Hey, I can’t make progress on that 2009 option, they’re really worried that you’re washed up” and “I don’t know what’s wrong with Theo, supposedly he was ripping you to Gammons last week.” You know every secondhand comment has a bigger purpose. You know those little digs will add up. You know Manny will start acting out. The rest is history.

I guess it goes without saying that I am waiting to buy my Manny Dreads and # 99 Jersey until AFTER the winter meetings.
Voldomer October 7, 2008 8:46 pm

Ned’s biggest priority this winter has to be keeping guys, not getting new ones.

Gotta keep Manny. No way around that, pretty much regardless of the cost.

Gotta keep Lowe too. If Manny stays, Lowe likely wants to stay, as he will know he will have run support.

Penny is gone. Maddux?

Furcal will return, as will Nomar, Beimel, Park, and Saito. Saito, Beimel, and Park get modest raises, Nomar will take a significant cut to be a backup, and Furcal will have heavy incentives.

Blake and Berroa also stay. Pierre gets traded; Jones continues to learn 1B, but eventually gets DFA’d.

Kent is gone, regardless of whether he retires.

I’m not sure about Sabathia. The Dodgers do well growing pitchers, so I’d rather see Manny get those big bucks.
mark October 7, 2008 10:18 pm

Ryan,

I am actually neutral on whether the Dodgers should sign Manny. I have said that it would take a $100 mil/4 year deal.

I would not sign Furcal long term. Too risky for a player who’s game is all-out and al-speed all the time.

Vold,

I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance Nomar will be here next year!
mark October 7, 2008 10:18 pm

Lowe will command $60 mil/4 years!
lawdog October 7, 2008 11:36 pm

Gotta keep Manny. No way around that, pretty much regardless of the cost.

Gotta keep Lowe too. If Manny stays, Lowe likely wants to stay, as he will know he will have run support. AGREED! NEW CORNERSTONE TO TEAM.LOWE WILL BE TOO EXPENSIVE IF WE KEEP MANNY AND FURCAL. REPLACE HIM WITH MACDONALD AND WE’LL BE FINE.

Penny is gone. Maddux? BOTH GONE UNLESS MADDOX WANTS TO RETIRE AND BECOME PITCHING COACH.

Furcal will return, as will Nomar, Beimel, Park, and Saito. Saito, Beimel, and Park get modest raises, Nomar will take a significant cut to be a backup, and Furcal will have heavy incentives.NOMAR AND PARK WILL BE GONE. THE REST YOU MENTION SHOULD BE BACK IF FURCAL IS CHEAP ENOUGH.

Blake and Berroa also stay. Pierre gets traded; Jones continues to learn 1B, but eventually gets DFA’d.BERROA STAYS. THE REST ARE GONE. PIERRE MIGHT STAY IF WE CAN’T GET A BOX OF CRACKERJACKS FOR HIM IIN A TRADE.

Kent is gone, regardless of whether he retires.SURLYMAN IS A GONER.

I’m not sure about Sabathia. The Dodgers do well growing pitchers, so I’d rather see Manny get those big bucks.WE CAN’T AFFORD SABATHIA IF WE ARE GOING TO SIGN MANNY AN D FURCAL. BESIDES OUR PICHING IS GOING TO BE THE BEST IN BASEBALL IF YOU JUST ENSERT MACDONALD WHERE LOWE’S BEEEN PITCHING.
Voldomer October 7, 2008 11:56 pm

Unless he’s causing trouble I’m not aware of, I really do think Nomar stays. He can’t be counted on as a front-line player, but he’s a premium sub at numerous positions (when healthy). I think he genuinely wants to be a Dodger (as he demonstrated the last time his contract was up), and I think he’ll accept a smaller salary to stay.
Bill Russell October 8, 2008 12:36 am

Voldomer, I would have to agree with you. I have been saying for sometime now that Nomar would be the best utility player in baseball. He can play all 4 infield positions and would have a better chance of hitting the ball blindfolded when compared to Sweeney. He might work his way into a players coach type position with the Dodgers. He did manage the last game of the year for Torre. I bet he accepts a much reduced contract next year. Besides, What other team would take a chance on him as a full time player? He simply can’t play full time any longer. I know it’s not possible to resign Manny, Furcal, Lowe and Blake, so lets just resign the first 3 on my list.
Bill Russell October 8, 2008 12:51 am

I would rather spend our money on resigning Lowe this off season. Why throw big bucks at Sabathia for 6 years and have his arm fall off. The rotation of Lowe, Bills, Kuroda, Kershaw and McDonald/Schmidt is good enough to get us to the Allstar break. If McDonald isn’t cutting it and or Schmidt is back on the shelve, (which he will be) I’m sure we can pick up a rental.

Let the Angels sign CC and we can watch his arm fall off and become their version of Jason Schmidt. CC’s over usage during this years playoff run has scared me on his durability for next year and into the future.
Badger October 8, 2008 9:05 am

Looks to me like Lowe has plenty left. I would try to keep him.

I have no idea where the Manny sweepstakes will take us. I have gone on record saying the Yankees will be willing to pay him more than the Dodgers, and that is always the bottom line. I also think Manny would love to be in a place he could play Boston several times a year.

Schmidt pitch? I am not counting on it. If he can great, but I doubt he will ever be the same. Sabathia will get overpaid by someone, and again I doubt it will be us. We have been pretty good at developing pitching, so depending on how this year ends, I think we may just go with our own. McDonald, Bills and Kershaw looks like a solid starting point, so I agree with Bill on that take.

Furcal? I just don’t know. Obviously if he is healthy he is the best FA SS out there. But, can he play 150? If he can, I keep him. I also like the ODog, but the two of them together might give us 150 on the DL. It’s going to be an interesting off season.
Ryan October 8, 2008 11:41 am

Lawdog,

I was thinking the exact same thing about Greg Maddux.

Let’s break it down: his playing options are limited to “west coast contender” which, after the 90 and 99 loss seasons by the Giants and Padres, respectively, basically leaves just us (I can’t fathom Maddux making the switch to the AL this late in his career. He would literally get murdered on the mound every 5th day). And, at 42 years young, with 355 wins under his belt, it’s not unreasonable to say that his playing days are winding down (regardless of his continued effectiveness).

I say Ned, Torre, Rick Honeycut, and Maddux get a foursome together at (Insert the nicest golf course you can think of here) and, over the course of 18 holes, talk about Maddux’s 10 year plan. Specifically, his goals and wishes once his playing days are over.

The conversation can start with Maddux and Honeycut riding in the same cart - Honeycut can begin by thanking him for his noted work with Derek Lowe and Kershaw. They can talk “pitcher to pitcher” and regale each other with stories from their respective hall-of-fame careers.

Next, Maddux can ride along with Torre. Torre can talk about veteran leadership and how “the kids” really look up to him, and how his acquisition from the Padres was just as big a part of the Dodgers success in September and October as Casey and Manny’s was. Torre can talk about how he used Clemens in his last season with the Yankee’s - you don’t have to travel with the team when you are not starting, blah, blah, bla…

Then finish up with Ned “The Closer”. Ned can talk about wanting Greg to be a part of the Dodgers organization as long as he wishes. Ned can paint the picture of Greg Maddux Pitcher and Coach. Greg’s playing responsibilities can last as long as he wishes (probably 2 or 3 more years, tops. He could get to 400 wins with 3 more 15 win seasons). But as part of the Dodger organization, his responsibilities for the other 6 days each week will be to act as the personal “Game Situation” pitching instructor for Clayton Kershaw, James McDonald, and Scott Elbert. Over time, as Greg’s playing role diminishes, his coaching role will increase. Eventually, he will take over as our full time pitching coach when Rick Honeycut decides to call it quits.

Thoughts anyone?
Badger October 8, 2008 12:53 pm

I like the idea sans Jed. Once the others figure out how, and where, Maddux will be used within the organization they can go back to Fred with the contract and have him endorse it. Maddux has to end his playing career sometime, why not now and why not in Blue?
lawdog October 8, 2008 1:07 pm

If we were to keep both Maddox and Honeycutt as pitching coaches, we could send one of them down to the minors for 10 days at a time once in a while to assess the young pitchers and help them make adjustments

Interesting tidbit: Like other pitchers, sometimes Koufax wouldn’t have his best stuff which usually meant he couldn’t command either his fastball or his curve on that particular day. When this happened he wouldn’t try to force the pitch he couldn’t command and just used the other exclusively. I remember one 7th playoff game he was going on 2 days rest and he didn’t have any snap on his curve. Using nothing but his fastball he won the game 2-1. Once he threw nothing but curves–every pitch–at the Giants in a televised game and put up nothing but goose eggs.

Kershaw would be unhittable as well if he’d just throw that changeup a little more often.

Broxton has become the second coming of Nen since he started throwing his 87-90 mph slider along with his gas.