Note:  The Clayton Kershaw photo is compliments of “Mike Sciosca’s Tragic Illness.”  I feel the same way!  Randy Wolf is set to sign with the Padres and be their #4 starter.  As a flyball pitcher, he should do well in Petco.  In other news, the Dodgers declined to offer arbitration to any of their free agents. Luis Gonzalez was a Type B free agent and if offered arbitration and signed elsewhere, would have garnered the Dodgers a compensatory draft pick. Then again, you run the risk of Gonzalez accepting arbitration.  I keep hearing that the Dodgers are the leaders in the Aaron Rowand sweepstakes and that he’ll get a 5-year/$55 -$60 million deal from us.  However, I will submit this to you: 

Rowand IS an upgrade over Pierre, especially on defense, but he is not a middle-of-the-order hitter and his HR total will suffer greatly in LA.  He was in a great hitters’ park in Philly which inflated his HR total to 27.  I think he’ll be lucky to hit 18 in LA, but he is a good character in the clubhouse.  He wouldn’t be a bad acquisition, except for the fact that we will lose a draft pick since he was offered abritration by Philly.  Therefore, I will cast Read the rest of this entry »

I am not going to say a word.  Just have fun with what Bill James says.

Bill James rates baseballs TOP 50 YOUNG PLAYERS

Bill James’ Team-By-Team Young Talent Ratings

According to Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com:

Trainer Stan Conte said all injured Dodgers are on schedule to be competitive in Spring Training. Specifically, Jason Schmidt (shoulder surgery) has just begun to toss. Brad Penny (sports hernia) and Derek Lowe (hip labrum) finished the season healthy and required no surgery. Hong-chih Kuo (elbow surgery) is on his normal offseason program. Tony Abreu (hernia surgery) has completed his initial recovery and is about to resume baseball activities. Rafael Furcal (ankle sprain) feels good enough to be considering winter ball. Nomar Garciaparra (calf) is undergoing his normal offseason rehab and training regimen. Chin-lung Hu (hamstring) has recovered and will join the Taiwan national team. Yhency Brazoban (shoulder surgery) is about to begin bullpen sessions. Jason Repko (hamstring surgery, ankle stress fracture) is resting the ankle, but the hamstring is healed. Minor Leaguers Scott Elbert (shoulder surgery) and Bryan Morris (elbow surgery) are also expected to be ready for Spring Training.