No one realizes more than I do that this is a 162 game season.  I am not worried about our pitching – it will come around (do you really believe that Kuo and Belsiario will continue to have double-digit ERA’s?  Sherrill?  I worry about him, but he can’t be THAT bad, can he?).

Three for the Road?

I am worried that Joe Torre has lost this team. It’s not the result (the fact that the Dodgers lost), it the fashion in which they are losing – passionless, uncaring, disconnected, sloppy, selfish and flat.  These guys are going through the motions – they are not even trying.  Oh sure, you can point to this or that and say “yes they are trying” but it’s a malaise that is permeating the entire team.

You can’t fire the players, so the management has to be held accountable, and now I am including Ned Colletti into that equation.  Ned should not go to the air waves to single out Matt Kemp.  It’s one thing to say the team is playing without passion or dogging it.  It’s quite another to single out a single  player.  It might be true, but it was wrong.

Joe Torre is a Hall-of-Famer, buy he has lost this team.  Look at what a shambles the Rockies were in last year – then they fired Clint Hurdle, and Jim Tracy (Jim Freakin’ Tracy) re-energized the team BIG TIME!  Sometimes change for changes’ sake is just what is needed! It’s time for sweeping changes:  Torre, Mattingly, Bowa, Schaffer, Honeycutt are all responsible.

We have a solution “in-house” in Tim Wallach.  It’s time for change, just 22 games into the season.  In 2007, the Dodgers started 13-8 and failed to make the playoffs, proving it’s not how you start – it’s how you finish.  Let’s finish this thing.

I believe that Ned has assembled a team that can win, and if he also believes that, he has to fire Joe Torre and he has to do it soon!  Failure to act means that Ned must also believe this team can’t win… and if that’s the case, he should be fired!  This is a “bottom line business” .

RANTS & RAVES:

• Clayton Kershaw still throws too many pitches, but he is improving in several areas.  I think both Chad and Clayton would benefit with a new pitching coach.
• I hope Garrett Anderson is French, because he is Toast!
• Charlie Haeger is in danger of being DFA’s and I doubt he will get claimed.
• Ben Sheets of the $10 mil contract has a 1-2 record with a 5.00 ERA (27 IP, 36 H, 14 vBB, 14 K’s) – so far, that looks like a dope fiend move by Billy Beane.
• Theo Epstein doesn’t like like the same genius right about now.
• The Mets looked like a trainwreck before the season and now are in high cotton – Mike Pelfrey is 4-0 with a 0.69 ERA – The Mets had so many problems before the season and have overcame them all.  Kudos to Jerry Manual.
• Ex-Dodgers:  Edwin Jackson – 1-2 with a 6.67 ERA (28 IP/36 H)   Brad Penny – 3-0 with a 0.94 ERA; Dave Duncan has him throwing strikes (Carpenter, Wainright and Penny may be the best 1-2-3 starters in baseball); Derek Lowe has a 5.79 ERA; Randy Wolf – 2-1, 3.34 ERA
• The Rockies optioned Chris Ianetta back to AAA – WOW!
• Barry Zito is unconscious.  Can he keep it up?  If he does, the Giants top 3 is as good as the Cards.
• Carlos Monasterios gets the start on Saturday instead of Heager and Ely looks to get another start as well.

Dodger Chris had this to say Yesterday (I feel his pain too):

I cannot express how pissed off I am about the state of my Dodgers. Unfortunately due to the Mccourts divorce I am afraid this may continue for the next few years to come. Their inability to shore up the starting pitching in the offseason has proven to me that they have decided not to give this team a chance. Maybe Frank needs to devalue the team so he will only have to give half to his ex-wife at a much lower value. The fact that she needs 1 million a month makes me want to puke and shoot myself in the head at the same time!!!! These people are DISGUSTING!!!! I lost my job a year ago and the only thing that kept me together last year was watching my team compete. Well, Mccourts, here I am still out of a job struggling like everyone else in this world right now and you two have the gaul to not spend a dime on the team while spending millions on vacation homes and lawyers. The only thing we can do to force the Mccourts hand is to BOYCOTT ALL GAMES until they show us that they are willing to invest in this team as much as we all have everytime we go to a game! IF we can cut into attendance I believe this will send a clear message to the Mccourts that DODGER FANS will NOT stand for their BULLSHIT and continue to feed their wallets while they DO NOTHING to improve this team. I WILL NOT GO TO ANOTHER GAME until they do SOMETHING about our pitching!!! PLEASE join me Dodger fans…We have to send these people a message!!!!!!!

Frank, you have a problem that can only be cured by winning!

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!

Riverside native and Fullerton alum returns to Southern California
 
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today signed outfielder Reed Johnson to a one-year contract. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.

“Reed is a versatile outfielder that comes to the ballpark ready to play every day,” said Colletti. “We’re excited to have him with the Dodgers. He provides Joe with a few defensive choices since he has played all three outfield positions in his career.”  

Johnson is career .282 hitter over 784 games with the Blue Jays (2003-07) and Cubs (2008-09). In seven seasons, he has 52 homers, 145 doubles, 306 RBI and a career on-base percentage of .344. Johnson has a career fielding percentage of .991, playing 434 games in left field, 210 in right field and 184 in center.

The acquisition significantly adds to the Dodgers flexibility for 2010 and gives the club two outfielders – Jason Repko being the other – on the 40-man roster who have played at least 50 games at all three outfield spots. In addition, with their offseason moves, Los Angeles will have six infielders in big league camp (Ronnie Belliard, Jamey Carroll, Blake DeWitt, Nick Green, Chin-lung Hu and Doug Mientkiewicz) that have played at least two positions for more than 25 games in the Major Leagues. On top of that, Belliard, Carroll and Green have played at least 50 games at three different infield positions over the course of their careers. 

Last season with the Cubs, Johnson hit .255 with four homers and 22 RBI in 65 games. The 33-year old also hit .324 vs. left-handed pitching, .455 (5-for-11) with the bases loaded and .354 (17-for-48) against the National League West. In his career, Johnson has hit .313 vs. left-handers and .294 with runners in scoring position.

Johnson’s best season came in  2006 with Toronto, when he established career bests with a .319 average, 86 runs scored, 147 hits, 34 doubles, 12 homers and 21 hit by pitches. That season, Johnson became the Blue Jays’ everyday left fielder and leadoff hitter while leading all American League leadoff hitters with a .390 on-base percentage. In his career, Johnson has played 422 games while batting in the leadoff spot and is hitting .285 with a .348 on-base percentage and a .416 slugging percentage in those contests. Johnson has belted seven career leadoff home runs, with his most recent coming in 2007 off Johan Santana.

Over seven seasons beginning in 2003, Johnson has been hit by 98 pitches, which ranks fifth in the Major Leagues over that time, trailing just Jason Kendall (117), Chase Utley (107), Jason Giambi (101), and Aaron Rowand (99). Since coming in to the Majors, he has been beaned an average of once every 29 plate appearances, which is the highest percentage in Major League baseball since that time among players with at least 2,500 plate appearances.

The Southern California native holds the distinction of being one of only four players in big league history to hit a leadoff home run and a walkoff homer in the same game. He turned the trick on June 15, 2003 with Toronto vs. the Cubs. Johnson was on the Cubs’ postseason roster for the 2008 Division series against the Dodgers, but did not play.

Johnson was born in Riverside and graduated from Temecula Valley High School, before moving on to play for Cal State Fullerton, where he was an Academic All-American. In 1999, became the first player in the Big West Conference to collect 100 runs and 100 hits. Johnson was originally selected by the Blue Jays in the 17th round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft. – From John Chapper (Dodger PR Staff)

We learned today, from Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com that the Dodgers signed Ronnie Belliard to what appears to be an $825k one year deal. The deal is said to also have about $250k in incentives, which pushes the deal over the million dollar mark.

We also learned that the Dodgers have apparently also signed Brand Ausmus to a one year deal believed to be close to the million dollar mark, via Buster Olney on Twitter.

I feel that Belliard has always been a professional hitter that can play good defense from time to time as well. He performed admirably last season batting .351 while with the Dodgers. His season average was around .277 so it is very clear that hitting in the mighty Dodgers lineup was a huge advantage.

Here is another reason why I like this deal. After watching the team from the field, dugout, and locker room last season as the representative of LADodgerTalk.com I got to see how much the other players really enjoyed his antics. To be more specific, Manny, Furcal, and Belliard were like the three musketeers! Its their culture and passion for baseball that bind these Latin all-stars. And I guarantee that Manny and Furcal have just improved a notch in 2010 because they will have this “Mini-Manny” with his jovial antics and mouth full of food constantly around all season.

This move makes us very versatile and deep with our infield, which I have learned is very important over the long season.

The Ausmus signing was great too. He also hit admirably in limited time as a backup last season. He hit .295 in about 107 at bats. His biggest assets to the team are the veteran leadership and defense. I think that Martin will get more rest this season as well. Even though Martin cut down his innings caught he still lead the league and there has to be some fatigue factor there. Although seeing Martin in the locker room I can tell you that he is VERY good shape, ripped with muscle head to toe. But catching an entire season is enough to make even Lance Armstrong fold.

More importantly on the Ausmus signing was that the Giants and the Padres got denied! So plus plus on the Ausmus deal!

Looks like good ole Ned was a very busy boy today!

UPDATE: Dodgers.com JUST now broke the story on Belliard. Still not official report on Ausmus but I am sure it is coming soon, as Gurnick states in his Belliard story.

INDIANAPOLIS – Los Angeles Dodgers President Dennis Mannion, who has overseen day-to-day business operations since January 2008, will assume greater responsibility that includes the club’s baseball operations.

To date, Mannion has had responsibility for business operations, including marketing, sponsorships, finance, ticket sales, human resources, communications and legal affairs. In his new role, Mannion will also oversee General Manager Ned Colletti, who manages the team’s baseball operations.

Mannion is one of the most tenured executives in professional sports. He first joined the Dodgers in 2007 following 27 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Baltimore Ravens.

“Dennis is a seasoned sports executive who has done a great job since arriving at the Dodgers,” said Dodger Owner Frank McCourt. “He has already begun integrating baseball operations with the rest of the organization, and today’s announcement formalizes that transition.”

“Connecting the baseball operation to the rest of the organization is a smart move that is good for the team,” said Colletti. “I have long believed that both sides of the operation will function better as one – both understanding the challenges each has and working together to celebrate the triumphs as one group. This move acknowledges that and I embrace it wholeheartedly.”

“We are all extremely proud of the team’s results on the field and the direction of the organization,” said Mannion. “Our talented staff on both the baseball and business sides of the organization are committed to making the Dodgers a world championship team and a world class operation.”

Halladay An Angel? 

If you believe the rumor-mongers, then you will believe that the Angels are the front-runners for Roy Halladay, as they are willing to include Joe Saunders or Jared Weaver in the deal and the Dodgers are unwilling to include Chad Billingsley or Clayton Kershaw in the deal. 

That may be so, but the Dodgers have a number of power arms that they could trade, especially at the A or AA Level (Withrow, Eovaldi, Martin, Miller, Adkins, et al.  Take the Rumor Mill with a grain of salt.  I believe Colletti is dead-on when he says that “I don’t believe we can subtract from [starting pitching] in order to improve it.”

GM is first in franchise history to reach postseason three of his first four years

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that they have agreed to a long-term contract extension for General Manager Ned Colletti. Dodger Owner Frank McCourt made the announcement. “One of our core promises to our fans is championship caliber baseball, year in and year out,” said McCourt. “Ned has been instrumental in our going a long way towards fulfilling that promise. I couldn’t be happier for him, both personally and professionally. The stability and continuity that extending his contract provides will further help us achieve the goal of being a consistent winner and I’m thrilled that he will continue to lead our baseball operations into the future.” Read the full story