Most of what follows come from Ken Gurnick of Dodgers .com:

• A day after losing catcher Russell Martin for four to six weeks with a pulled groin muscle, the Dodgers saw third baseman Casey Blake come out of Monday’s exhibition game against the Giants with a strained rib-cage muscle.
• Joe Torre said this about Josh Lindblom:  ”Am I allowed to say it with my general manager around”  He’s pretty simple to watch. His ball explodes at the end with something on it.“  In my opinion, Lindblom has a great shot at making the team.
• In the regular game against the Giants, the Dodgers received two solid innings from Josh Towers; an impressive inning from Jon Link, who came over from the White Sox in the Juan Pierre trade; and two scoreless innings from Rule 5 Draft pick Carlos Monasterios.
• General manager Ned Colletti said there was no news regarding the status of reliever Ronald Belisario, who is still stuck in Venezuela with visa problems complicated by a driving under the influence arrest last summer. Colletti said if Belisario isn’t ready to start the season, he would be placed on the restricted list.
• Another quote from Torre:  ”Right now, Blake [DeWitt] is swinging as well as anybody.  I believe he’ll hit in the big leagues consistently, not .320, but probably .280 plus do some damage.”  Joe stole that line from me!

The rest is from me:

• Blake DeWitt is now hitting .800 (he’ll keep that up) in his bid to make the team as the everyday 2B.Ned Wants it, Joe Wants it and it looks like Blake Wants it.
• Jamey Carroll haters will enjoy a heaping helping of crow!  This guy will mean a lot to us.
• Nick Green is ahead of schedule.  He doesn’t have the stats, but this guy is also a ballplayer.  Probably no room, but….

Russell Martin is down for the count for 4-6 weeks.  The Dodgers should err on the side of caution, so we may not see Russell until May or June.  That’s OK – at least he won’t “wear-down” this year.   The workout regimen he went through this winter is extremely grueling.  My 23-year-old son tried it for half a day and said it nearly killed him.  I think that this is “just one of those things.”  You eventually get hurt, sooner or later – we’ll see how Russell responds.

NEXT MAN UP!

That should be the Dodgers Mantra.  The next men are Brad Ausmus and AJ Ellis.  We know that Ausmus is not a regular, but he can catch 3 or 4 days a week, so don’t anoint AJ Ellis the heir-apparent to Martin.  He is a very good (not excellent) receiver, but I have serious doubts about his hitting.  He’ll have to show me that part of his game.  He will certainly hit Number 8, so if Blake DeWitt wins the 2B job, we will have good balance with him at Number 7. 

I hope he can hit, but even though Martin had a bad year, his OB% was almost .360.  That’s not easy to replace.  AJ Ellis has worked hard.  He is 29-years-old and has been a career minor-leaguer.  It will be great if he can “seize the day.”  AJ Ellis is that guy who is every body’s friend, a guy you can count on, a guy who doesn’t have great talent, but maximizes it to the hilt.  He’s not the serious leader Martin is, but he’s just “one of the guys.”

Never underestimate Russell Martin’s “intangables.”

You just never know about injuries – they can linger, or recovery can be amazing.  I have no clue how fast Russ Martin will respond.  Neither does anyone else.

Tony Jackson has a good article about AJ and a video with Ned about Martin.

NOTE:  I am headed to Florida for a week (Convention) so I don’t know how much I’ll blog.

Dylan Hernandez says it’s his groin.

Tot Holmes says it’s his hip.

Tony Jackson says it’s his stomach.

He had an MRI last night and they know the results, but aren’t telling…

It may be nothing, or something.

AJ Ellis – Next Man Up!

Stay tuned!

Are you afflicted with Dodger Myopia?  Do you only see up close, but fail to see the big picture?

I say:  ”Blake DeWitt will be a solid 2B and has the power to hit 20-25 HR.”

You say:  ”No way he does that – your’re crazy!”

I say: “James Loney will start showing some power and hit .300.”

You say:  “You are always predicting career years for Dodger players.” (While we are on that one – tell me where I really missed it.  Not when I said a guy would hit .300 and he only hit .287, but when I said a guy would hit .300 and he hit .235.  Come on – I’m waiting).

I say”  ”Clayton Kershaw will be our Ace and Chad Billingsley will return to form.”

You say:  “There you go again, making unrealistic predictions.”

I say: “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

You say: “We have to bailout the banks and car companies.”

Here’s the deal:  You have to let people fail… or succeed.  Bailouts help no one.  Let the American Spirit Soar.  Don’t fence it in.

Sometimes you get amazing results.

An innocent man in prison can sit there an lament his plight.

An innocent man in prison can get to work and end his plight.

It’s a choice!

This is the greatest country in the world because people who live in abject poverty are forced to sink or swim.

Many chose to sink, but some swim (against all odds) and soar to success.

Only in America.

The Indianapolis Colts have the best winning percentage record of any team in any sport in a decade.  In their locker room, they have a sign that says “Next man up.”

If someone gets hurt – it’s The Next Man Up! Just keep on Keepin’ on!

The Dodgers could sign Braden Looper.   That’s safe (or stupid).

Or, they could let Stults, Elbert, Haeger and McDonald blaze the trail.

It’s Safe to Be Negative:  After all, you can’t be disappointed.  You already predicted failure!

It tough to be bold.  You get criticized.  You get made fun of.  That’s why many people chose to be negative.

You can be negative, or you can be positive, and according to some people, it makes no difference.

But, it makes a difference to me.  When I am positive I am happy.  When I am negative, I am sad.

If the result is the same, why not be positive… and happy?

It’s easy to be negative.  You may only see the forest, but I see the trees. Not because I’m better than you.  It’s just that I’m bolder than you!

Happier too!

Go Dodgers!

Just a laundry list of a few things I expect to see this year:

• A healthy Rafael Furcal who is 100% physically and (most importantly) mentally (it takes a while to recover mentally from a surgery) regains his form and is again one of the elite short stops in baseball.  This alone makes a huge difference for the team.
• Blake DeWitt wins the 2B job and hits 18 HR’s silencing his critics, while playing a good 2B.  (Make No Mistake – the Dodgers want DeWitt to be the 2B).
• Reed Johnson and Jamey Carroll (who have been much maligned) become two important components of the team (THESE GUYS ARE BALLPLAYERS) and contribute mightily.
• Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw become Co-Aces.  Bills is in the best shape I’ve seen him.
• James Loney will hit for more power, as will Russ Martin – I can’t tell you what they will do, but I expect better results.
• George Sherrill will not do well this year – I would love to see the Dodgers trade him.  I can see an ERA of over 4.00.   Pull the trigger, Ned!  Just do it!
• There WILL BE a significant trade this Spring involving the Dodgers.
• Brian Giles will retire by next weekend.
• Ronnie Belliard will be insignificant and ultimately be released.
• Who will step up – Hu?
• Opening Day Lineup:

1. Furcal  SS
2. Kemp  CF
3. Ethier  RF
4. Ramirez  LF
5. Loney 1B
6. Blake  3B
7. DeWitt 2B
8. Martin  C
9. Kershaw  P

Televised Game Today at 12:05 PDT or 3:05 EDT

For those of you that have complained about the Dodgers opening the season in Pittsburg, think again.  During part of World War II, all of the MLB teams were required to abandon the Grapefruit League and the warming air of the Southwest, and hold spring training in cities located above the Mason-Dixon Line.  Six of the then 16 MLB teams held spring training in Indiana and formed the short lived “Limestone League”. Only some of these teams actually were able to train in nice weather. You can presume that those teams chose to play in a college town whose university had a field house.

The Limestone League included teams that held spring training in the following “metropolitan” areas:

• Reds – Bloomington, IN -1943-1945
• Tigers – Evansville, IN -1943-1945
• White Sox – French Lick, IN – 1943-1944; Terre Haute – 1945
• Cubs – French Lick, IN – 1943-1945
• Indians – Lafayette, IN – 1943–1945
• Pirates – Muncie, IN – 1943–1945

Although the Cubs played in the World Series in 1945, none of these 6 teams won the World Series during those 3 years.

As a side note, two teams actually chose to hold spring training in Indiana in lieu of going to an area with a warm climate:

• Browns – French Lick, IN – 1902
• Cardinals – West Baden, IN – 1911 (10 miles from French Lick)

Currently there are 15 teams holding spring training in the State of Florida, constituting the Grapefruit league, and 15 teams holding spring training in the State of Arizona, constituting the Cactus League, (including 2 in Tucson). Strangely, during the last 20 years (19 World Series), 16 of the World Series winners held their spring training in Florida as part of the Grapefruit League; 2 winners held spring training in Tucson and only 1 winner held spring training in Phoenix (the Los Angeles Angels) of the Cactus League.

Based upon the above “stats” Florida has it hands down over Phoenix as the place to hold spring training and Phoenix appears to be only slightly better than French Lick, Indiana, as a place to hold spring training! It appears that even though Phoenix is a warm place it has put a chill on the ability of the teams in the Cactus league to win the World Series.

Mark – If you were born 90 years ago you could have enjoyed your spring vacations in Indiana!

–Written by Ken

By actual count, the Dodgers have 32 pitchers in Spring Training Camp who are vying for 12 spots.  I cannot see any way that Joe Torre decides to go with 13 pitchers.  With the off days and all, I think he will break camp with 12 pitchers.  That means that 20 have to go.

There are 11 Non-Roster invitees:

Also on the 40 man roster are McDonald, Link. Zerpa, Wade, Schlichting, Leach and Elbert as players who have a shot at making the team.

The way I see it, unless Stults and/or Haeger really mess up or get traded or go on the DL, they will both make the team.  That would make 11 pitchers.

Monasterios has a shot unless the Dodgers want to lose him (I have never seen him pitch, so I have no clue).  Then there’s Wade (remember how good he was in 2008?), Weaver (great swingman), Miller (solid), Gagne (no way?  way!) and McDonald and Lindblom (the future, who could all go to AAA).

The Dodgers have plethora of arms.  Who will win the arms race?

It should prove to be interesting.

DODGERS TALK:

• According to Steve Dilbeck of THE LA TIMES, the Dodgers are steamed about Ronald Beliasrio.  Sometimes things like this end badly for a player:

“I think it’s a problem now.  The pitchers need all this time. Of course, he did play winter ball. But I can’t really tell you [his condition]  until I see him.”

• Dylan Hernandez and Bill Shaikin report that Garrett Anderson is a Dodger.  This should prove to be interesting as Mientkiewicz, Giles and Anderson compete for one spot.
• Jay Jaffe of Baseball Prospectus writes on ESPN/LA’s Pay Blog that Clayton Kershaw’s new Slider Makes Him a Cy Young Candidate (Thanks to Jon Weisman)
•  Tony Jacksonreports that Ned Colletti is not happy with Belisario either.  I am beginning to think the guy is a knucklehead!  Tony also reported this:

 The situation ultimately could cost Belisario a considerable amount of money, as well. He has only one year of big-league service time, meaning he will have a split contract with a major-league salary of no more than about $415,000 this season, and he won’t even get that much if he is in the minors.There also is a provision, known as Regulation 6, in the current Basic Agreement between owners and the players’ union that would allow the Dodgers to suspend Belisario without pay and require him to stay behind in extended spring training when the team breaks camp if he doesn’t report at least 33 days before the start of the season.The Dodgers’ season opener is April 5 at Pittsburgh, meaning Belisario already has missed that deadline and the Dodgers already have that option.”In the event of the failure of the Player to report for practice or to participate in the exhibition games, as required or provided for,” the regulation reads, “he shall be required to get into playing condition to the satisfaction of the Club’s team manager, and at the Player’s own expense, before his salary shall commence.”The phrase “to the satisfaction of the Club’s team manager” means the length of such a suspension would be entirely at the Dodgers’ discretion.

… because my old buddy, Tony Jackson hit this one out of the park:  Billingsley Learning To Let Go. Whatever needs to be said about Chad has now been said by Tony, and it justneeds to play out.  In a nutshell, Tony summarizes Chad’s struggles like this:

“Billingsley’s biggest problem, the one that has plagued him at various times since he reached the majors in 2006 and the one that probably is the biggest reason he hasn’t fully morphed into the staff ace he was projected to be, is that he appears to have trouble letting go of his mistakes.

“There were times in the middle of a game — and it might not have just been when a guy drove in a run, but maybe it was a guy leading off an inning with a double, something like that — where I would think maybe I should have used a different pitch selection,” Billingsley said. “Then maybe you try to overthrow or try to do too much. That’s the mental part of it. But the only way to get better is by doing it, by being out there on the mound. You can’t simulate it in the bullpen or by throwing batting practice. You have to be out there facing hitters in a game situation.

“You can’t dwell on it. Sometimes, you throw your best pitch and a guy gets a hit and drives in a run. You can’t do anything about that now. You just have to bear down and go after the next guy.”

Read the article and you will see  that Chad is working on his problem.  Tony sums it up like this:

“Billingsley grasps these lessons easily enough. But Dodgers officials won’t have their questions answered for a few more weeks, when they get the chance to see whether he can actually put those lessons into practice in the heat of a major league game.

If he can do that, he has the potential to be a true, front-of-the-rotation ace.”

Just because C-Bil had a bad 2nd half of last season doesn’t mean he’ll pitch the same way in 2010, anymore than the fact that Rafael Furcal having a good conclusion to his season means that he’ll do well in 2010 – you have to look at both players “body of work” and their body of work suggests that they are capable of a very good 2010.  How much would that mean to the team?  Raffy and Chad returning to All-Star Status?  Think about it.  Will it happen?  Don’t know!  Are they capable – YES, they are!

Never mention Chad again until the All-Star Break!  Tony said it all!

Dodger Notes:

• Don’t put much stock into Charlie Haegar’s bad outing – I wouldn’t expect that Knuckleball to dance for a couple of weeks!
• MSTI thinks James Loney will have a big year.  So Do I!  It’s his time.
• It turns out that the most important pitcher in camp might be Sandy Koufax who is working with all the Dodger pitchers for the week.  How huge could this be?

I don’t think most of you realize how good this version of the Dodgers can be.  I am sure that the National Media, including Plaschke and Simers don’t.  I do think that Jackson and Weisman do.   We may be in for the ride of our lives.

Spring Training has broken out at Camelback Ranch and the news is pouring in:

• According to Ken Gurnick, Dodgers’ Bullpen Coach Ken Howell discovered a flaw in Eric Gagne’s delivery which he is attempting to correct.

The former Cy Young Award-winning closer made a quick adjustment and, according to Howell, immediately gained velocity on his fastball and drop on his changeup, although not yet with enough consistency.

• Sandy Koufax toutors young Dodger pitchers
• Eric Stults gets first shot as the 5th Starter
• Joe Torre gets Koufax and Kershaw together for some quality time
• The best part of the interview with Koufax was when TJ Simers asked “What bugs you?” to which Sandy responded “Sportswriters like you.” Classic Koufax
• By introducing Clayton Kershaw at the interview, it is obvious the Dodgers are anointing him the opening day starter, and evidently Joe Torre and the Dodger Brass believe he is ready and able to take a huge step forward this year and be our ACE!
• Dylan Hernandez on whether Andre Ethier is moody (maybe he’s just focused)
• Hong-Chih Kuo from Dylan Hernandez
• Steve Dilbeck on Eric Stults and that the job is his to lose
• Stults starts the game today against the ChiSox

Torre, Ramirez and Loney headline team of Dodger players on international goodwill trip

PHOENIX – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the expected roster for the upcoming three-game series in Taiwan. Additional players may be added or changed prior to the March 10 departure.

The Dodgers will bring 33 players, including 17 with Major League experience, in their first team trip to Taiwan since the 1993 Friendship Series. Manager Joe Torre, left fielder Manny Ramirez and first baseman James Loney will be joined by Taiwan natives Hong-Chih Kuo and Chin-lung Hu, Japan native Robert Boothe and South Korea native Hyang-Nam Choi.

Six players on the roster also made the Dodgers’ historic trip to Beijing, China in 2008 for the first-ever games in that country. They are Kuo, Hu, John Lindsey, Lucas May, Xavier Paul and Eric Stults as well as Torre and coaches Lorenzo Bundy and John Shoemaker.

Lindsey registered the first hit, a single to left field, during the two-game series against the Padres in China.

A complete roster is below, subject to change.

Pitchers (15): RHP Mario Alvarez, LHP Alberto Bastardo, RHP Robert Boothe, RHP Jesus Castillo, RHP Hyang-Nam Choi, RHP John Ely, RHP Francisco Felix, RHP Charlie Haeger, RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP Hong-Chih Kuo, RHP Josh Lindblom, RHP Jon Link, LHP Juan Perez, LHP Eric Stults and RHP Josh Towers.

Catchers (4): J.D. Closser, Gabriel Gutierrez, Lucas May, Jesse Mier

Infielders (8): Ronnie Belliard, Angel Berroa, Jamey Carroll, Chin-lung Hu, John Lindsey, James Loney, Russ Mitchell and Ramon Nivar

Outfielders (6): Brian Barton, Xavier Paul, Manny Ramirez, Prentice Redman, Michael Restovich, Trayvon Robinson

Coaches: Manager Joe Torre, first base coach John Shoemaker, third base coach Lorenzo Bundy, pitching coach Jim Slaton, hitting coach/bench coach Tim Wallach and bullpen catcher Mike Borzello.

Manny said it best:  ”I’m baaaaaacccckkk!”  However, I really wasn’t gone long, and I’m back, but there will be some new enforcement of old rules. We’ll get to that in a minute.

I’m back, in part, to several e-mails I received, and I will publish just a couple:

I hear what you are saying.   As in life, with our Dodgers, if we don’t have hope, we have nothing. You provide so much hope for the Dodgers in your posts. I understand your frustration with constant attacks on Dodger ownership. I expect it is more than irritating to be accused of being a McCourt plant.

Mark we live in an age of instant gratification. It seems many of DodgerTalk posters, some extremely knowledgeble, are looking for that and see dollars as the route to the ultimate goal. Your constant reminders of the success we have had under Mr. McCourt, especially compared to many years before him, falls on deaf ears. It seems community involvement, Camelback, Dodger Stadium upgrades, a consistent approach to growing the team, an adequate budget, success on the field  means nothing. For the love of the game tends to get lost.

I hope you reconsider your decision but I fully understand if you don’t. Without hope, without fun, baseball, our Dodgers, actually become a burden in out lives. I very much enjoy your blog, not posting too often, as I feel over-matched by quite a few of your posters. I am amazed at how you can write as regularly as you do, with as much variety and creativity as you provide and still run your business and tend to your family. Perhaps, if you do return, you could start more slowly without daily posts. However, if you feel you would have to return with benign posts, no controversy, no prompting, then it truly would be no fun.

With whatever you choose, I thank you for the enjoyment, and hope, you have provided for me.

One e-mail that was especially important was from a soldier in the 82nd Airborne, who wrote:

I am a  huge Dodger fan ever since my father took me to a Dodgers and Reds game at the age 8.  I am 31 now and am in the US Army and currently deployed to Afghanistan.  I check your blog every chance I get.   It’s one of the few things that keeps me going on a day to day basis. I enjoy your writing and your optimistic look of our team. I do get tired of the childish negativity that is spewed as of lately. It truly makes me sick as it seems to do to you also. But that’s the world, and that’s how they choose to live their life. Just don’t let it get you down. I fight for their right to say their stupid [BS], and as mad as it makes me, I still come to read your blog. If you’re truly calling it quits…I understand and thank you for your information and thoughts that you shared with all the TRUE Dodger fans. Hope to see you back soon and dust your shoulders off of these piss poor fans.

I guess that sums it up.  Baseball is about hope.  Baseball is about a fresh start in the spring.  Baseball is a little boy’s game and this blog is about hope.  Hope that the Dodgers can win the World Series.  Much focus is put on how bad our owner is, but go back and re-read the bold parts of first e-mail.  Why bother being a fan if you are just going to spew venom about how bad the Dodgers are?  The Dodgers are not the favorites to win, but they are one of the best teams in baseball.  With a little luck, continued development of the young players, and health, this team could go a long, long way.  The Series?  Yes, I think they can.  But there’s a lot of baseball between now and then.  Raffy looks healthy and rested.  The pitching staff is enthusiastic after conversations with Sandy Koufax.  The Jacksonville Five (Loney, Kemp, Martin, Billingsley and Broxton) are all looking to take their place in Dodger lore, as is Andre Ethier.  Manny is being Manny, Joe is being Joe and this team has a lot of “fight” in it!  More than last year.  They are hungry

Play Ball!

Oh, the rules – I have broken a few in the past.  It won’t happen again!  I will post what this Blog is About:

This blog was started in 2002 by Mark Timmons after he grew weary of all the issues inherent on other message boards.  LA DODGER TALK has a few rules.  We are civil to one another and do not talk politics and religion. Cursing and derogatory language are not permitted. Show respect to one another and let’s root for the Dodgers.  Here are a few of the rules we observe here:

1) Do not use profanity or any euphemisms for profanity;
2) Do not personally attack other commenters;
3) Do not bait other commenters;
4) Do not argue for the sake of arguing; and
5) Do not discuss politics or religion.

This website is for died-in-the-wool Dodger fans who realize that while statistics are important, they are just another tool and know that humans, not numbers, play the game of baseball. To that end, we do not live and die by sabermetrics or statistical analysis.  However, we do view stats as an important evaluation tool – it’s just not the ONLY tool.

If you want to be negative, because it makes you feel good – have at it, but make sure you have your facts right.  I have a button just like Jim Rome.  Someday, maybe I’ll even allow comments again.  ;)

After looking at the #5 Starter competition, I have concluded that anything is possible.  I believe that the favorites to win that position are as follows (in the order I think it most likely along with questions):

1. Eric Stults (his time?)
2. Charlie Haegar (was last year a fluke or a peek?)
3. James McDonald (he’s determined to win the spot, but can he?)
4. Jeff Weaver (can he return to being a solid-pitchers every 5 days?)
5. Scott Elbert (is his arm ready for this?)
6. Carlos Monasterios (can he jump that far?)

These six pitchers all have a shot and deserve consideration.  One will step-up.  Maybe two or three?   I can see only three of those pitchers making the team, maybe just two.  There will be some tough battles this Spring.  What do you think?

What other teams in the NL do you think will be in the playoffs?  I have already stated that I think the Rockies will not make the playoffs and I am now picking the Cardinals to be the best team in the league (behind the Dodgers, of course).  I hate to say it, but Brad Penny could win 20 under Dave Duncan (he has always had million-dollar talent to go with a 10 cent brain), and Kyle Lohse could also win 15-16 games.  If Wainright and Carpenter stay healthy, this could be an excellent rotation.  Dave Duncan is the master!

Around the WEB:

• Steve Dilbeck writes about Chad Billingsley’s Mental Toughness (or lack thereof)
• Ken Gurnick says that Cory Wade is in great shape and eager to re-gain his spot in the pen.  I found this part especially interesting:

“Wade brushed off the suggestion that middle relievers get abused and are particularly vulnerable to injuries of overuse.

“It really is an honor when a Hall of Fame manager has confidence to give the ball to a rookie,” he said. “It’s my own fault I ended up breaking down. I wasn’t as strong as I should have been. I wasn’t really prepared for the role.

“I did what I could do. As a first-year guy, you think you can handle it. I’d be happy with the role again. I’d do anything to help the club win. Last year was a big-time learning experience for me.”‘

• About a week ago, I wrote that I had heard James Loney had been working out and bulking up.  It turns out I was partially right.  Dylan Hernandez confirms that he is slimmer and stronger.  That bodes well for the Dodgers.
• It seems to me that the Dodger Kids are becoming grown men and they are determined to make their mark.  They are more mentally tough and they are prepared and planning for big years.
• Again, I don’t think that Russ Martin will continue his decline.  His character won’t allow it, and he’s not old.  Look for a big rebound.
• As much as it worries me, Rafael Furcal is a big key to 2010.  If he stays healthy and can put up good on-base numbers, the offense should be very good.  It all starts at the top.  It will be interesting who bats #2.  I vote for Kemp, due to his speed.
• If it comes down to Jeff Weaver or Charlie Haeger for the “swingman” role.  I’d keep Haegar – he’s much younger with a bigger upside.  Of course, theres’a  lot of time between now and then.  Too many scenarios to play out.
• Tony Jackson talks about Belli’s Belly and other issues at 2B.
• Jon Weisman thinks Xavier Paul could make the team if Giles and Mientkiewicz health issues keep up (and both have major issues)
• Jon Weisman opines what could happen with Ronald Belisario.
• MSTI discusses that Having a Good Team With No Ace is Better Than The Inverse- Good read
• Memories of Kevin Malone (hereafter “MKM”) profiles Chris Withrow.

Our 2010 Starting Rotation

Well, if you ask me… and you didn’t (but I’m going to tell you anyway), it’s Young Clayton.  Maybe it’s a rush job, but maybe it’s not.  Maybe he’s ready.  Not “maybe” – he ISready!   I think it’s likely that Clayton Kershaw will be even better this year.  His ERA might not reflect that, but he will pitch deeper into games and flirt with 20 wins this year.  After Clayton, will come Chad Billingsley, followedby Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla, with the 5th Spot being Eric Stults to lose.

Unless Charlie Haeger is a disaster during the spring, he will battle Jeff Weaver for the “swingman” spot in the pen.  The rest of the bullpen is less clear.  We do know that Jon Broxton, George Sherrill, Ramon Troncoso, Hong chih Kuo and James McDonald will probably all make the team barring injury.  I just can’t see Weaver and Haeger both making the team, as they are competing for the same position, but if it comes down to it, they will keep Charlie and send Jeff to AAA (at least for a few weeks under the guise of building arm strength).

That leaves a lot of pitchers up for grabs, including Ronnie Belisario, whom Joe Torre may want to demote for a while after his Visa problems two years in a row.   We also have Cory Wade, who could flat-out make the team out of Spring training, and Carlos Monasterios (who could be bought or have another player sent to his former team, and demoted).  Lindblom, Zerpa, Miller, Towers and Elbert all seem slated for AAA.

While it would be a “feel good” story and great if it happened, the odds are against Eric Gagne making the team.  Would he accept an assignment to AAA?  Maybe for a few weeks, but hey, this is Spring – anything can happen.

Let’s not forget, however, that there is always a pitching surprise.  Belisario was the big one last year.  Who will it be this year?

Rants & Raves

• I keep thinking about it and I can’t see Brian Giles or Doug Mientkiewicz making the team, especially if Xavier Paul has a rousing Spring
• Ronnie Belliard has to weigh below 210 pounds tomorrow – if he doesn’t, is he off the team.  At any rate, I don’t see him as a starter.  He’s a role-player (like last year).
• Russ Martin will be the All-Star Catcher in the NL this year – Write that down!
• Oh, and in case you don’t understand – I still say Clayton Kershaw will be our Opening Day Starter.

Despite the wishes of many I have decided to write an in depth article about THE “Lawsuit”. From time to time lawsuits with significant and/or minor issues are filed between baseball team owners, or between fans and their favorite team. Some of these lawsuits will affect one local team and others will affect all of major league baseball. One lawsuit has been filed recently that might have significant, lasting and broad effects upon all of baseball.

That law suit is John Coomer v. Kansas City Royals Baseball Corporation, Case No. 1016-CV04073, Filed February 8, 2010. The causes of action are Negligence and Battery.

According to Mr. Coomer’s petition, he purchased a premium ticket to the Royals’ game, against the Tigers, on September 8, 2009 and sat a mere 6 rows behind the third base dugout. The Royals’ mascot “Sluggerrr” undertook his task of shooting steaming hotdogs, and their buns, into the stands with his air gun.

Just like a hot-dogging sniper “Sluggerrr” was standing atop the third base dugout without any protection. However, the fans had no protection either. Obviously the baseball fans who sit just six rows behind the third-base dugout at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium know that there is a chance that they must be aware of, and might have to dodge a few foul balls during the game. Little did Mr. Coomer know that he would have to protect himself against steaming hotdog projectiles being propelled at a high speed into his personal space.

“Sluggerrr” then put down his air gun and commenced to throwing the hot dog projectiles into the stands, including one that he threw behind his back. This misguided missile, struck Mr. Coomer in his left eye. Mr. Coomer claims that the Mascot “lost control of his throw or was reckless with his throw, and threw the hotdog directly into the Plaintiff.”

Mr. Coomer alleges that the wayward wiener caused him to have a detached retina and that as a result cataracts have developed in his left eye. He was required to undergo two eye surgeries to correct these problems. Mr. Coomer also claims that he has suffered permanent impairment to his vision and is now at an increased risk of disabling eye problems in the future.

In addition to seeking restitution of $25,000 for medical expenses that he incurred, Coomer is also seeking damages for the team’s failure to adequately train its’ mascot on the proper method of throwing hot dogs into the stands at Kauffman Stadium.

Of course the plaintiff is a resident of Kansas so this case might have something to do with the long held bitterness between Kansas and Missouri residents that began around the time of the Civil War. Or he may just have some type of phobia against Mascots like “Sluggerrr” who are allowed to behave like militia with their hotdog propelling air guns.

However, we should also be concerned that some California trained judge may hear this case and hold for Mr. Coomer on all causes of action and impose a new standard of care for Mascots. Why not? Does the back of your ticket expressly warn you to be aware of flying hotdogs? You may have assumed the risk of being hit with a baseball when you purchased a ticket, but a hotdog?

What about the Vegans? Don’t they have a Right of Privacy to not have slaughtered remains of a pig, cow, turkey, and/or chicken propelled uninvited into their area of seating?

Maybe the Judge will not just hold for Mr. Coomer, but will also turn this matter into a class action lawsuit for all of us fans and order the Royals, and any other team propelling missiles into the stands, to provide protective eye ware free of charge to all persons in attendance. - Written by Ken

 DODGER NEWS:

• Dylan Hernandez writes about Russ Martin and a Return to Glory (where have we heard that?)
• Hernandez also writes about Matt Kemp’s new found fame
• In both articles you have to be impressesd with how serious Kemp and Martin are about thier workouts.  If Kermp can improve and Martin can return to his best season, LOOKOUT!
• TJ Simers Slimes Frank McCourt
• Jon Weisman is a good read.

… nor am I a hater.  I see the good he has done as the owner of the Dodgers.  I see the mistakes he has made as well.  However, he seems to have learned each time he makes a mistake.   Overall, the Dodgers are in much better shape than when he took over.  His lifestyle seems excessive – in my business, I work with the rich and famous and don’t really care about all their “stuff.”  My “stuff” is fine.  If I had their money, I wouldn’t live the way they live… but that’s just me.  If they want to live excessively (my opinion) that’s their gig. 

However, I am sick of this Dodger Divorce.  It’s a soap opera and I will no longer talk about it until the case is decided.  I’ll take it a step further – I’ll delete any posts or comments on this issue.  I don’t want to hear about it.  It’s something I don’t care about.  I don’t care about “what if.”  I care about “what is.”  The Dodgers IS.

That’s what I want to focus on:  The Dodgers.  The baseball part of the business.  The players.  The coaches.  The minor leagues.  That’s all.  If I can’t do that, I’ll shut this blog down.

This is a Dodger blog – not a McCourt blog.  I don’t want it.  I won’t have it and I’m done with it.  “Frank, I don’t live for you, and hopefully you get that.”

This blog is about Matt Kemp, Jon Broxton, Eric Gagne, Chad Billingsley, James Loney, Clayton Kershaw, Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin and all the rest of the boys.

I am not against Frank McCourt… nor am I for him.

Whatever happens, happens – the Dodgers will thrive, or survive under Frank McCourt.

This is a Dodgers Zone!

Nothing else!

Lawrence Delevingne, a writer at  The Business Insider, sent me this link to his article The Nastiest Billionaire Divorce Ever: Jamie And Frank McCourt.  It deals with the facts and not the rampant speculation that some of you state as facts.  It’s a worthwhile read, if you want to know all the players in this process.

Dodger Stuff:

• Flash!  No Manny next year.  Who knew?  From Dylan Hernandez at THE LA TIMES  Manny is very adept at stating the obvious.
• Tony Jackson of ESPN/LosAngeles weighes in with more about Manny being Manny
• Andrew Lambo profiled

My 2 Cents:

• Jamie Carroll will be a utilityman this year – DeWitt or DeBelli will start.
• It’s possible that the Dodgers may carry only 4 outfielders as Carroll and Blake can both play OF.
• Most of the players on the 40-man roster are in camp.  That’s a good sign.

It’s easy to measure the “dog in the fight” but that’s only part of the deal.  For example, in terms of talent, Pete Rose was not in the same category as an athlete when compared to Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and most other hitters, but Pete Rose holds the record for hits.  There were a lot of  hitters with a lot more talent than Pete, but in his case, it wasn’t the size of the dog in the fight, it was the amount of fight in the dog.

I have been saying for some time now, that our 2B this year will be Blake DeWitt.  Some of that, I admit, is wishful thinking, but Blake DeWitt has something else.  Something that you can’t measure.  You can’t measure IT by seeing that he hit over .300 the first two months of his rookie season, or that he hit .204 last year and wasn’t that impressive in AAA.  You simply can’t measure IT, but when I see Blake DeWitt, I believe he has IT and will win our 2B job this year.

The fact that he is a lefty is a huge bonus.  Blake thought he was ready to play 2B last year, but the Dodgers didn’t and brought in the O-Dog.  It was the right move, but DeWitt continued to hone his skills at 2B, and by all accounts, he is ready defensively.  I believe Blake DeWitt is a guy who will hit .265 with 15-20 HR THIS year.  If you could measure the fight in this dog, the meter would read “Junkyard.”  Blake DeWitt is a Junkyard Dog and I mean that as a compliment!

Russ Martin in 2009 and 2010

I remember when I first saw Russell Martin.  He had only been catching for a few months, but his footwork behind the plate told me that he was the real deal.  In 2005, I watched him on Jacksonville Web TV (just about every home game) and in Spring Training of that same year, I watched him repeatedly be the first player onto the field before games.  His hard work was legendary, and I predicted great things for him as far back as 2005. 

Right about now, he has been a disappointment the past two years, but I think that anyone who exhibited his work ethic is ultimately going to succeed.  The past two seasons, he has worked on “flexibility” exercises.  This winter he just “bulked up”  from 207 to 231.  For those of you who say, you can’t put weight like that on without steroids – YOU ARE WRONG!  When I was 23, I put on 30 lbs of muscle with weight training (I worked out with two 300 pound linemen).   I went from 225 to 257 in about 110 days.  High protein and lots of work.  It was hard, but I did it, and I imagine that with todays’ technology it would be easier.

I believe that Russ Martin will return to his Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Status this year – He’s just too hard of a worker!

P.S.  Excuse the fact that I am devoid of photoshop skills – use your imagination!

Dodger News:

• Tony Jackson says 2B is Blake DeWitts’ to lose
• Ken Gurnik on Scott Elberts’ shoulder
• Bill Shaikin writes about Dodgers plans for next 8 years
• Jon Weisman weighs in on the above and other issues

It turns out that Ronnie Belisario and I have a lot in common – No I don’t have a DUI, but we both have Visa problems that prevented us from reporting yesterday.  He hasn’t been able to obtain his, and I have to work to pay mine off!  So there you go.  Joe Torre isn’t mad at me , but he is mad at Ronnie! 

Spring is that time of year when the “little boy” in us all dreams big dreams: 

• Manny will have an MVP season
• Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier will combine to hit 80 HR and drive in 240
• Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw will be 1,2 or 2,1 in CY Young voting
• Russell Martin and Rafael Furcal will win Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves
• Eric Gagne will regain his form to become “Game Over” Gagne
• From James McDonald, Eric Stults and Charlie Haeger will emerge a #5 starter who goes 200 innings
• BelliCarroWitt will combine to hit over .300 at 2B
• Casey Blake didn’t have his career year last year – he will have it in 2010 – with a beard, no less

Now, most of those dreams will not happen, but some will and it’s going to be fun to see which ones play out.

Spring Notes:

• The Dodgers and Torre are working on an extension of one more year.
• Russell Martin allegedly looks like a fullback and has muscled up this year.  The last two years, he worked on flexibility and that simply didn’t work.  He’s allegedly about 20+ pounds heavier.
• To those of you who expect Casey Blake to have a bad year at 37, just look back at Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt and Pete Rose at 37.  If a guy takes care of himself, there no reason he can’t be at his peak then and I think that Casey Blake, while not in the category of the three above-mentioned 3B, is a candidate to do as good, probably better than last year.
• Rumor has it that James Loney may have “bulked up” over the winter.  That would make some of those fly balls, “Big Flies.”

Must Reading:

• Tony Jackson on Eric Gagne
• Dylan Hernandez on Chad Billingsley
• TJ Simers with a “Feel Good” Article on “Game Over”

My sources tell me that Manny Ramirez checked into Camelback Ranch one day BEFORE the pitchers and catchers were to report. 

For whatever you think about Manny Ramirez, he is a hard worker and his early arrival (way early) bodes well for the Dodgers upcoming season. 

Without saying a word, he is making a statement: “I’m Serious About Winning This Year!”

He's Here!