Not likely Miguel. Some times people just choose to believe what they choose to be true. There have been many articles written and opinions posted that question the McCourt leadership – including this one by Weisman, followed by over 70 comments from fans that are concerned:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgerthoughts/2009/11/shaikin.html

with this contained within it:

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/04/sports/sp-shaikin4

I don’t like to make assumptions, but if I had to guess, I would guess you have never had to give up half your multi-million dollar assets to an ex in a divorce settlement. To try to explain how this effects a man’s day to day operations is difficult to do. You kind of have to have been there to understand how it works. I referenced Moores as an example, but you didn’t respond to that. The Padres were NL West Champs in ’05 and ’06, tied the Rockies in ’07, then came his divorce, and you can clearly see what that did to them.

The Dodgers are one of the elite franchises in all of sports. Despite claims of “business as usual” I find it very difficult to believe it is the case. Business as usual does not include dealing with teams of divorce lawyers daily with the prospect of losing half of everything you own looming on the horizon.

Having said that, I look forward to every Dodger having career years, and then our owner being able to miraculously afford the massive raises this will cause. The team will draw 4 million to help our owner raise payroll to $120 million.

All is well in Dodgerland.

Could I be disappointed. Of course I could. Only time will tell.

As for the pitching staff. I love Kershaw, and think that Billingsley will be at least good, and perhaps very good. He’s still relatively young, and it won’t take much to get his game turned around in the right direction. I’m not certain about Kuroda, but I’m not pessimistic either. He’s had two consecutive years with ERAs below 4. His injury problems could carry over, and then again, he could give us a nice year. From what I saw of Padilla last year, he’s at least as likely to give us a good year as Randy Wolf. And if we get to the postseason, I’d be more confident hanging my hat on Padilla than Wolf, who was horrid in the 2009 playoffs. Between Stults, Haeger, McDonald, Elbert, etc., I believe we will find a more than competent fifth starter. Furthermore, an acquisition via trade is still not out of the question. And the bullpen remains strong. Also, with another year to work on his secondary stuff, I believe we will have a better Broxton.

And despite what appears to be popular opinion, I trust that the bench will be improved over what we had last year.

This is not the pathetic team that some ouf you describe. There’s talent here, and I believe it will get us 90 – 100 wins.

I would like to see a new owner. But for the life of me, I can’t figure out how the Dodgers would have been better off spending oodles of money on what was a weak free agent market. Lackey could have been the next Jason Schmidt, and Joel Pineiro is in no way worth what he got. Neither is Randy Wolf. Fact is, I like the cheaper Padilla better than both of them. And we weren’t about to sign a Holliday or Bay given that our outfield is already set.

And if there was any business as usual, it was the signings of players to minor league contracts. It happens every year, and once in a while it results in something. Sometimes not. Teams sign these guys to create competition in spring training, and to provide experienced bodies to fill up innings. The players who sign those contracts also realize that they’re not just playing for a spot on the team they signed with, but perhaps with another team with a need that they can fill. These players can also play a role providing experienced talent in the minors that could prove useful filling a void created by injury during the regular season.

I also believe that should there be a need to spend money during the season to add a difference maker, it will be available because it wasn’t needlessly spent during this offseason on the Joel Pineiro’s of the world.

I still haven’t heard a good reason to why and how the divorce could be affecting payroll. I heard some disagreeing with what I said, but still, no proof. Will some wise oracle rise up and change my mind?