It pains me greatly to say this. I never raise the white flag, but Ned tried and it was too little, too late. 
Podsednik, Theriot, Lilly and Dotel arrived at the fort after the troops had already been massacred.
This year is done. It’s time to hop on the Bus Gus, we don’t need to discuss much.
It is time to look at the core of this team, and decide who has to stay and who can go. I think it’s really very simple: most of the core of this team are players who are under team control for the next few years, but not all are “core players.”
Immediately, the following players should be placed on waivers (of course, some like Sherrill , Blake and Anderson will not be claimed, but some will):
- Sherrill
- Anderson
- Lilly
- Podsednik
- Theriot
- Dotel
- Broxton
- Padilla
- Kuroda
- Martin
- Blake
- Furcal
- Ramirez
- Weaver
- Belliard
- Carroll
You don’t need to be coy, Roy, just listen to me. Here’s my rationale: The Dodgers will actually keep some of those players, but a few could bring us some TOP (I mean TOP) Prospects in return. Tampa Bay or the White Sox covet Manny, and while the Dodgers won’t get a ton for him, they should be able to recover $2 to $4 mil and a Top 10 Prospect for him. Broxton and Furcal will both bring two Top Prospects, I mean really good players. Raffy can help a team win it all THIS year. The Dodgers only control him one more year and he’s getting older, so they need to see what they can get. If they can get two Top Prospects for him, they should do it. Just drop off the key, Lee and set yourself free!
I am a believer that you don’t pay a closer $10 mil, and Broxton will be there soon. Never mind that I have an “irrational hatred of him” – he needs to go, and get us a couple more top prospects. Stockpile those bad boys. Someone may want Podsednik, Theriot, Lilly, Dotel, Padilla, Kuroda, Martin, Weaver and Carroll or Belly. They won’t all go, but some will. Jansen, Lindblom, Belisario, Kuo, Guerra and others wait to close.
Just slip out the back, Jack. Look, I like Raffy – but let’s get real. He’s having a career year. Trade him before he gets hurt!
Here’s the Dodger’s core:
- Kemp
- Ethier
- Loney
- Kershaw
- Billingsley
That’s it! Those 5 guys are the Dodgers Core. I used to love Russ Martin, but he’s not a “core player.” Matt Kemp showed how good he can be when he is focused, like last night. He got called out in the press the day before, admitted he needed to do better, and immediately did it! He has Superstar talent. The play where Loney got thrown out at 3B could have happened to anyone in that same situation. I can’t fault Kemp on that one (and I have been critical of him this year). Kemp was scoring easily and wasn’t dogging it, but was in a mode that wasn’t top speed (and rightfully so). If anything, we should be ragging on Loney for going to 3B.
The Dodgers should lock those 5 guys up long term! RIGHT NOW! Belisario, Kuo, Jansen, Monasterios, Paul, Hu, DeJesus, Sands (?), Lindblom, Ely, Ellis and others will be around also.
Take the prospects the Dodgers can get for Martin, Broxton, Lilly, Manny and others and add them to their stable of prospects. Oh, and sign Zach Lee! NOW!
That’s my plan. Make it so, Ned.
Oh, here’s your short list for managers next year:
- Gibson (if he’s available)
- Scioscia (yeah, I know, but…)
- Ausmus
- Wallach
Pick one!





















Wolf? Well, no one can be sure, but do you really want 3 years of Randy Wolf? I mean, two years ago and even last year, many of you didn’t want him back. 

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.




