Q.  Why did Ned Colletti sign Jamey Carroll for $1.7 mil a year when he could have signed Felipe Lopez for $1 mil?

A.  Come one, can’t you figure this out on your own?  OK, I’m going to explain it to you r-e-a-l   s-l-o-w:  Ned just had some money in his pocket and wanted to spend it, before it burnt the proverbial hole.   Yeah, that’s the ticket!  COME ON!   Here’s the deal – when free agency started, the Dodgers knew that they were not going to re-sign Orlando Hudson and they did not want to be stuck without a second-baseman.  They knew that Lopez, Belliard and Company were wanting multi-year contracts North of $4 mil a year, so they made sure they had a 2B and signed Jamey, knowing that he could start if necessary, or be a utility player.  Lopez, Hudson and Belliard over-estimated the market.  Second Basemen who hit .280 and have single-digit home-run totals are a dime-a-dozen.  Yes, Ned may overpaid, but he had to secure a 2B early, if Blake DeWitt didn’t step-up.  To his credit, when the market dried up, he got another (Belliard).  Hindsight is 20/20 and it’s easy to look back and criticize a decision, but Ned did the prudent thing and locked up a 2B early.  It turns out there wasn’t much of a market for a 2B who’s not a hitter like Dan Uggla or Chase Utley.

Q.  The Dodgers were a .500 team in 2008 without Manny, why should we believe they can be any better in 2010?

A.  Hello?  Does the fact that the Dodger youngsters are 2 more years on the mature side have any bearing?  Hello?  Is anybody home?  Hello?  Hello?

Q.  Did getting sent up and down in 2009 really affect Blake DeWitt’s production last year?

A.  No, going back and forth between AAA was a piece of cake especially since DeWitt knew he wouldn’t win the 2B job anyway.  NOT!  Blake DeWitt thought he had the 2B job and then the Dodgers signed Hudson and bounced him back and forth like a yo-yo.  No, it had no effect!  ARE YOU CRAZY?  Of course it had a MAJOR EFFECT… unless he’s not human!

Dodger Notes:

• Russ Ortiz and Ramon Ortiz are both pitching “lights out.”  Russ is in the running for the #5 spot.  Who wooda thunk?  Could we really have 2 Ortiz’s come Opening Day?
• If Haeger doesn’t make the team, could he make the DL?  Stay tuned…
• The Number 5 Spot is Eric Stults to lose…
• Don Mattingley has once again proved he is not a rocket scientist!
• Don Mattingley should not be “automatic.”  I can think of two other managers I would rather have – Gibson & Wallach!
• As I suspected, Brian Giles could not handle playing anymore, so he retired.  1  down, 1 to go.
• Dylan Hernandez suggests that Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp are now the “face of the organization.” – I have to agree.
• It turns out that Belisario IS a Knucklehead!  Read Tony Jackson’s piece about the moron.
• For the record, I think Matt Kemp would be awesome in the #2 spot and give teams fits there.  He would elevate the games of everyone in the lineup.   He’s a 40/40 threat – as soon as this year!
• I expect good things from these guys – THIS YEAR!

Written by Ken (“the views expressed herein are not necessarily the opinions of yada, yada, yada” – Legal Disclaimer)

Many years ago Joe Isuzu appeared in several commercials, graduated to a sit com, and then slowly faded away. Recently, Joe Torre also graduated from his Big Elow commercials to cameo appearances in several television series. In this parallel universe it may be time for him to also slowly fade away. Ken, and why do you say this?

I use the Joe Isuzu comparison because Joe Torre appears to be managing the Dodgers like Toyota is managing their car quality and production. From now on I may just call Joe Torre – Joe Toyota.

I am tired of watching Joe Toyota’s accelerator stick causing certain position players to not have enough off days during the season and then crashing in October. In 2010, Blake, Ramirez, Martin and Furcal need more days parked in the garage then in prior years. Joe Toyota, fix your accelerator and allow these position players to pace themselves at an appropriate speed so that they will have the gas left to hit above the Mendoza line in October. Some of the young players only need a few days off to change their oil. However, when observing the age of a car and the more specialized the use of a car, any good mechanic will implement an appropriate preventive maintenance program. Apply the brakes to certain players and give them more rest days so that they can properly recharge their batteries.

I am tired of watching Joe Toyota’s accelerator stick causing him to leave pitchers on the mound like the second coming of Grady Little. It did not take a rocket scientist to see that for several months last year Billingsley had physical, and possibly mental, endurance issues and hit the wall 100 minutes into the game regardless of how many pitches he threw, just like the limitations of the battery of an electric car. If Joe Toyota does not know how to recharge Billingley’s battery, then Joe Toyota should not drive Billingsley in a direction that will cause the battery to die before he returns home (reaches the 6th inning).

I am tired of watching Joe Toyota’s accelerator stick causing him to treat Broxton’s rocket engine like a 4 cylinder engine that can be driven everyday on a 100 mile commute. Joe Toyota, you must know when to apply the brakes. It did not take a rocket scientist to see that Broxtonrarely had any skills in the second inning of a game, after resting for 3 or more days, or pitching three days in a row. You just can not start a rocket engine every day or let it sit for four days in a row and expect it to operate properly for the entire year. I am tired of watching Joe Toyota’s accelerator stick causing him to leave hitters in the game when they refuse to swing at strikes, refuse to hit the ball the other way, and then pull an outside pitch to third base resulting in a ground-ball that starts a double play or kills a rally. Joe Toyota, when are you going to apply the brakes, order the player sent to the shop, and put them up on the rack for a detailed skills inspection?

If the Joe Toyota’s managerial performance is not changed by Cinco de Mayo, then I suggest the following recall:

1. Convert “Bob” to another special assistant to the GM and let him travel 5 days a week and visit the Dodger minor league teams,
2. Let Ausmus call the game and give the signs to the catcher when he is not playing. (Honeycutt can concentrate on teaching the pitchers how to pitch)
3. Let Mattingly give signs to the base coaches when the Dodgers are hitting (This will assist management in determining whether he actually is a viable managerial candidate), and
4. Let Torre concentrate on motivating the players and give them a safe environment.

Yeah, Arte Moreno looks really swell – He signed Lackey and Figgins and Matsui, right?  What?  not Lackey and Figgins?  Well, Matsui is a friggin’ gazelle, I tell you!  Moreno is a genius!  Yeah, that’s the ticket! 

You guys kill me with your incessant sobbing!

Come next season, you goofballs are going to look back and say “I must enjoy imagining how bad things were so I could just make myself miserable.”  What a way to live.  NOT!  We must have a $38 million dollar payroll – we are selling off our players right?   WRONG!  Use your heads.  This year we will have to pay our arbitration-eligible players a lot more money and then sign them to EVEN BIGGER contracts in a year or so.  Dope-fiend moves right now will eliminate that possibility. 

This team is going to win.  Now, I am not betting they go to the Series (but I always root for them to do so), but you never know – Remember, big contracts to free agent pitchers seldom work out.   The Dodgers aren’t going to make any more dope-fiend-Jason-Schmidt-Andruw-Jones-Juan-Pierre-Moves. 

I like Jamey Carroll – he is another Indiana Boy  from Don Mattingley’s hometown of Evansville.   His .351 career OB% says what he is about.  I believe we will see a platoon of DeWitt and Carroll at 2B.  Jamey had a .376 OB% against Lefties last year, which is who he will probably face the most.  I would expect to see him maintain that OB% level in Dodger Stadium.  He is a great “Clubhouse guy,” and while not a fast base-runner, he is a very good base-runner.  His defense is solid, if not spectacular, and at www.truebluela.com, Eric Stephen makes a case that Andre Ethiers’ reluctance to charge balls harder may be the result of Orlando Hudson trying to play RF (those are my words not his).  That’s a valid argument.  I would expect to see him and DeWitt fill the #8 hole.   I was not a fan of DeWitt in the beginning, but I believe he is a “Ballplayer” and he just might get us 15-20 HR.

I know that no one is excited to have Luis Ayala, but you have to sign several guys like this every year for the AAA roster, and sometimes you catch “lightening in a bottle.”  Probably not in this case…

On Randy Wolf – some say that he would have not accepted arbitration from the Dodgers with an offer like he got from the Brewers.  HELLO!  The Brewers didn’t make that offer until AFTER he was not offered arbitration.  Randy Wolf would have accepted arbitration – ABSOLUTELY!  Why?  Because he knew that he could get $12+ million in arbitration.  He did not have that $30 mil offer from the Brewers on the table at the time arbitration was to be offered.  He really did not know what his market would be.  He really wanted to stay in SoCal and that was also a factor.  

Just because he was offered arbitration and accepted, would not limit his signing.  So, to say that he would not have accepted is just plain crazy.  He most likely WOULD HAVE accepted.  Why would he NOT keep all his options open?  Ditto with Hudson.  The market did not beat a path to his door last season and they are not doing it again this off-season.  You are delusional if you don’t think he would have accepted arbitration, while still seeking a better deal.  Nobody was willing to pay him much last year and history is repeating itself!  Do any of you really think players who had been “froze out” in last years market would have turned down $12 – 13 mil and $8-9 mil respectively?  THINK PEOPLE!  THINK!

There is uncertainty with the Dodgers situation, especially since the Ownership Issue won’t be resolved until June… at the earliest, but there is no “fire sale” here and the sky is not falling!  The Dodgers have financial constraints, but they will still be around $100 mil in payroll and that’s hardly the San Diego Padres!

CHILL!

According to multiple sources, the Dodgers are chasing Aaron Harang (a player I targeted a while back).  His stats won’t impress you, but he wants to win and was not happy in Cincy.  I don’t predict he’ll be an ace, but he could very well deliver 200+ innings at a 3.75 ERA (or lower) in Dodger Stadium.  Forget the past 3 years stats – this is a case where you have to have “Vision.”  He’ll probably cost the Dodgers McDonald or Elbert, and someone like Repko or Paul.

LOS ANGELES – The 2009 National League West Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that their entire Major League coaching staff will return for the 2010 season.

Led by manager Joe Torre, the staff has guided the Dodgers to two straight National League West Division titles and two consecutive National League Championship Series. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.

The coaches: Larry Bowa – Third Base Coach (third season) Mariano Duncan – First Base Coach (fifth season) Rick Honeycutt – Pitching Coach (fifth season) Ken Howell – Bullpen Coach (third season) Don Mattingly – Hitting Coach (third season) Manny Mota – Coach (31st season) Jeff Pentland – Instructor (third season) Bob Schaefer – Bench Coach (third season) Bowa will enter his fifth straight season as a third base coach for Torre and his third with Los Angeles. Read the full story

The Dodgers have improved over 2008.   They won more games, but they still couldn’t get past the Phillies, and the Phillies will still be good next year.  I suspect that Raul Ibanez had his career year and will slip back to reality next year and the Phillies will have some holes to fill, just like the Dodgers.  Like the Dodgers, the Phillies have a former ace who needs to come back and I believe both will.  It would not surprise me to see either one win a Cy Young Award in the future, even as easly as next year.  I fully expect Hamels and Billingsley to both win 16-18 games next year.  Both pitchers have too much talent.

Manny will return as Manny, because he’s playingfor Manny,  and the Dodgers should benefit from his quest for a new contract, in what will certainly be his last year as a Dodger.  Look for Manny to hit .320+ with 35 HR and 130 RBI.  I look for more growth by Kemp and Ethier as both become perennialAll-Stars.   Russ Martin?  He’ll be back with a vengeance!  Count on it!    I do see two areas in which the Dodgers need to improve:  They need more power from 3B and 1B and they will get it from James Loney at 1B, who I believe will hit around 25 dingers.  He has shown he is capable.  3B is another issue.  Casey Blake had a better year than I expected, but he’s still a journeyman at best.   We need a big HR bat at 3B and will will get robbed if we try and trade or one.  Here’s what we do:  Sign Adrian Beltre!  Sign Adrian Beltre.   He loves LA and is a cinch to hit 30 for the Dodgers.  Yeah, I know you don’t believe me, but he will!    If you want to look at stats, then I’ll use the year he hit 48 HR as a stat!  He’s young enough that we can sign him to a 5 year deal.   That means we need to dump Blake, and we can do that in a deal for Roy Halliday. I purpose that we trade Jon Broxton, Casey Blake, James McDonald, Ethan Martin,  and Chris Withrow to Toronto for Roy Halliday (pay a lot, get a lot).  I am not a Blake hater, but we need to get younger and better at 3B! Read the full story

Stirring the pot?  Me?  I resemble that statement!  However, this I believe:

Hanley Ramirez - Emerging Superstar

1. Manny Ramirez has become a liability – he’ll get better, but he’s still a liability;
2. Russ Martin will regain his post-2009 form (maybe this month, maybe next year);
3. I like Orlando Hudson, but he will probably be too expensive.  I think the Dodgers would offer him a deal like 3 years/$16 million, but that’s probably not enough (someone else will give more and he’s not worth that);
4. We won’t trade for DanUggla – too one-dimensional, and not enough defense;
5. Who’s on 2B?  It won’t be Tony Abreu unless the D-Backs void his deal (not likely).  It could be Blake DeWitt (his bad year doesn’t faze me) or Ivan DeJesus, Jr.  I see Ivan as a 2B, not a SS (not quite enough range).  After missing most of this season, he could be another year away, but you never know.
6. I have suggested trading Martin and Loney, but I like both of them too much to do that yet!
7. If this were my team, I would figure out how to void Manny’s deal and put Pierre in LF. 
8.  Then I’d trade Raffy for whoever would take him if we paid half his salary. 
9. Next, I’d trade Dee Gordon, Andrew Lambo, Scott Elbert, Chris Withrow, James Adkins, Ethan Martin and James McDonald (I’d overwhelm the Marlins) to Florida for Hanley Ramirez.  All the Dodgers have to do is rename Mannywood to Hanleywood!
10. I still believe that Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw will be the Dynamic Duo!
11. I would choose one of the following:  Randy Wolf, Vicente Padilla or Jon Garland (we’ll see how they do the rest of the way).

Starting Lineup: Read the full story

It’s tempting to only write about Chad Billingsley’s meltdown in the 5th inning, but really, what lost the game for us was again a lack of hitting.   Andre Ethier had 3 hits and the rest of the team didn’t show up.  We do have a new LH pinch hitter: Doug Mientkiewicz.  With Jim Thome on the roster is it possible that we will keep both for postseason play?  I doubt it!   The Dodgers have been in a malaise for a while, except for and occasional outburst.  I am not panicking at this point because I would rather get hot LATE!  The Cards are white hot -it’s doubtful they can stay that way.  The same thing happened to the Rox.  Hopefully we will get HOT at the right time.

Which brings me back to C-Bill.  He was pitching a perfect game through four innings, then a one-out double (it broke up his perfect game), and then he pitches out of the stretch – BANG first pitch HR!  Is that the inside book on C-Bill?  When he goes to the stretch does he automatically come in with a fastball strike?  Maybe he shouldn’t pitch out of the stretch and maybe he shouldn’t throw a fastball strike on the first pitch after a base-runner gets on.  Of the first 12 batters he faced, he had 9 first pitch strikes (8 were fastballs).  They were sitting on that pitch and that was the game.  The other two runs were of the ticky-tack variety.  If Blake were at 3B, both might not have scored.  Belliard is not a Read the full story

• Doug Mientkiewicz will be one of our first call-up on September 1st.  We can use his LH bat as a pinch hitter.  Tony Abreu’s bat will be nice too.
• With the Rockies 4th straight loss, the Dodgers are now 5.0 games in the driver’s seat!
  

  We will have a LH pinch hitter next week.

• Cliff Lee Yesterday - 5 IP/10 Hits/6 R – See that guy isn’t any good!  Haeger pitched better than that (almost).
• Here’s a quick scouting report on Charlie Haeger:  “Don’t swing at the first 2 or 3 pitches.”  If hitters don’t swing at Haeger’s first two pitches or three, the odds are at least two and maybe three, may be balls, then he has to take a little off and get it over the plate.  It will be interesting to see how he fares now that he’s been scouted 3 times.  He’ll have to adjust.   The league is going to make him throw strikes.
• Gameday had C-Bill at 95 in the 5th inning, leading me to believe it’s still his head, not his arm.  Actually, if you watch, you will see that he is not hitting his spots.  The catcher has to move his glove a long way on most pitches.  His control is worse than Kershaw’s right now.
• Juan Pierre’s return to the lineup results in a win…. hummmmm…..
• Loney, Martin, Manny, Furcal, Preston Mattingley – all reasons that Don Mattingly may not be what the Dodgers need as a hitting instructor.
• Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp both rave a shot at 100 RBI.
• I predict that the Dodgers will have 4 hitters who hit 20+ HR, meaning Manny has to get hot!
• Another prediction:  James Loney will be “white hot” in September, and just miss getting 100 RBI’s.
• The Giants are now #2 in baseball in team ERA – the Dodgers are alone at #1!
• Clayton Kershaw faces Bronson Arroyo today in Cincinnati.  Arroyo has been hot of late, allowing only 11 ER in his last 6 starts (44.1 IP). Read the full story

Rumor has it that after Tuesday’s extra-inning loss, the reporters were not allowed into the Dodger clubhouse for quite some time as Ned Collottimet privately with Joe Torre.   What was said?  Look, Ned could have called Joe or had a beer with him later, but he chose to come to the clubhouse and talk to Joe right after the game.  I am sure it was a case of “kick the cat” in that Frank McCourt had already reamed-out Ned and so Ned kicks the cat and reams-out Joe Torre.  We’ll never know what was said, but I guarantee it wasn’t cordial!  I am sure that Joe is on notice that he has to win or he is history!  That’s a good thing!  Being in a comfort zone right now does us no good.

TJ Slimers of The LA Times is on Don Mattingly in today’s paper.  This has been my concern for quite some time.  We have 4 veteran players who are having their worst hitting seasons in quite some time (or ever) – Hudson, Martin, Loney and Raffy.  What role does Donnie Ballgame have in this?  We have 2 hitting coaches in Pentland and Mattingley.  Is that a problem?  I am losing confidence in Donnie.  I mean, his own son is in his 3rd year in A ball and can’t hit above .235?  What does that tell you?

RANTS & RAVES:

• Randy Wolf is 4-0 with a sub 2.00 ERA his last 4 starts.  This guy has ben amazing for us! Read the full story

As usual, the Dodgers outhit their competition… AND LOST!  Earl Weaver called it the power of the 3-Run HR.  WE haven’t had many of those lately, but I think you will be seeing more this year and next as Ethier, Kemp and Loney mature.  I still see Loney as a 20 HR guy.  I am not convinced that Don Mattingly’s methods are the best for this team.  I mean, he can’t even teach his own son to hit (OK, that was a cheap shot).  Matt Kemp has prospered under Mattingly but has really not developed his power (he has also cut down on his

Kim Ng and Ned Colletti - www.LaDodgerTalk.com

 strikeouts)and Andre has developed power at the expense of his BA, but Loneyhasn’t developed power and Martin has regressed.  Martin’s OB% remains high but he pulls the ball continually and has no power.  Either he’s injured or really confused.  I know he’s not that stupid!  What role does the coach play in this… and who is really the hitting coach – Mattingly or Pentland?   We have a great team batting average, but our run production is not what it should be.  Bring back Earl Weaver’s favorite play – the 3-run homer!

RANTS & RAVES

• Clayton Kershaw is a mere mortal.  His ERA is up to 2.86.  Horrid!
• Jeff Weaver is becoming… Jeff Weaver.  Another outing or two like that and he’s DFA.
• Corey Wade pitched 2 scoreless inning to get a save last night in AAA.
• Abreu is up to .343 after going 3-4.
• Choi won his 6th game (1.83 ERA) in relief.  He should get a look…
• James McDonald continues to impress in relief.
• Kuroda needs to step it up even more tonight.
• The stage was set for Manny last night in the 9th, but like Matt Kemp said “He’s not superman.”  No, he’s not, but he hasn’t even been Clark Kent lately.

Hip Update.  It’s been six weeks today since I had full hip replacement.  I had my doctors appointment yesterday and he released me to do any type of exercise and movement.  He said that I was where I should be in 90 days.  Since I still limp, he gave me some special gluteal exercises to do (he told me to discontinue the others).  For the record, I am going up and down stairs “foot-over-foot” but it still hurts.  However, I can tell it’s a “good” hurt, not a bad hurt.  I felt better after seeing the X-Rays and how everything was as it should be.    I am telling you that I really feel for older folks that have this type of surgery.  I have a lot of upper and lower body strength, but this would be very hard for someone with less strength.  Wow!  It ain’t easy, but the worst is in the past!

For the past few days, people have been speculating as to what is wrong with Russell Martin, whether he is finished,  why is he so bad, etc., and so I am going weigh in with a couple of things:

1. Some say it is overuse.  PLEASE!  This guy is in great shape and has played 122, 129, 144, 151 and 155 games over the past 5 years.  He’s 26 – that’s Nothing!  Jason Kendall had a stretch of 7 years where he played 143 to 157 games and was over 150 games 4 times in that span.  Johnny Bench played the following number of games over a ten year span:  154, 148, 158, 149, 147, 152, 160, 152, 135, 142.  Those who castigate Torre and Little for overuse of Martin are out of touch. Read the full story

Rotoworld.com recently posted this about Preston Mattingly:

Preston Mattingly went 0-for-4 on Monday, leaving him with a .163 average for low-A Great Lakes. Mattingly, who hit just .210/.251/.297 in 404 at-bats for Great Lakes last season, is playing even worse so far this year. He’s currently sporting a 172/33 K/BB ratio in 633 at-bats as a pro, and it’s not like he makes up for it with power or defense. It looks like he was a pretty extreme overdraft when the Dodgers took him 31st overall in 2006.

Blurbs like this are precisely why I dislike fantasy and stats-driven sites. Maybe the Dodgers made a bad pick, but it’s way too soon to say. Look how bad Jason Repko looked at times in the minors (not that he’s a star now), but early experience in the minors doesn’t always predict what will happen to a players career.

Stats-driven sites like the above-mentioned fail to take into consideration the “human element” which in this case is that a Mattinly’s parents are undergoing a messy divorce and like it or not he’s involved. He’s not that far from home, but he probably feels a million miles away. He’s a young kid under 21, who still wears braces, going through leaving home, living on his own and then having the two people he loves most battle it out in court. Do you think it bothers him? Is his concentration poor? Is he depressed? All of that could affect his production. Don’t you think? He’s not a computer, you stupid stats geeks, he’s a human being, for God’s sakes. Lay off him.

All I can say about Rotoworld is: “They are insensitive idiot jerks!”