True Blue LA

Dodgers Announce Spring Broadcast Schedule

2010-02-09T21:48:26Z

Image Courtesy of LA Dodgers

The Dodgers are showing more spring training games on television than ever before in 2010: 11 games on Prime Ticket, and three more on KCAL. From the Dodgers:

In an effort to provide more Spring Training games to fans than ever before, PRIME TICKET’s "Camelback Vision" telecasts will air with minimized production, as is appropriate for the atmosphere of Spring Training.

If this is anything like the online broadcasts in 2009, this will mean most of the action will be seen from a camera behind home plate, with minimal zooming and few cuts to other cameras. Still, 14 out of 32 is a good amount of spring games on television.

Vin Scully will broadcast all three games on KCAL. The Prime Ticket broadcasts will alternate between the broadcast teams of Eric Collins & Steve Lyons, and Charley Steiner & Rick Monday. Here is the full schedule (all times Pacific):

Day	Date	Time	Opp	Location	TV	Radio
Fri	3/5	12:05pm	CWS	Glendale		KABC/KHJ/DRN
Sat	3/6	12:05pm	CWS	Glendale	Prime	KHJ/DRN
Sun	3/7	12:05pm	Chi	Mesa		KABC/DRN
Mon	3/8	12:05pm	SF	Scottsdale		KABC
Tue	3/9	12:05pm	Col	Glendale	Prime
Wed	3/10	12:05pm	AZ	Glendale	Prime
Thu	3/11	12:05pm	KC (ss)	Surprise
Fri	3/12	12:05pm	Cin	Glendale	Prime
Sat	3/13	12:05pm	AZ	Tucson		KABC/DRN
		TBD	Taiwan	Taiwan
Sun	3/14	1:05pm	Tex	Glendale	Prime	KABC/KHJ/DRN
		TBD	Taiwan	Taiwan
Mon	3/15	1:05pm	LAA	Tempe
Tue	3/16
Wed	3/17	1:05pm	CWS	Glendale	Prime
Thu	3/18	1:05pm	Chi	Glendale	Prime
Fri	3/19	7:05pm	SD	Peoria		KABC/DRN
Sat	3/20	1:05pm	Tex (ss)	Surprise		KHJ
		7:05pm	SD (ss)	Glendale	Prime	KABC/DRN
Sun	3/21	1:05pm	Cle	Glendale	KCAL	KABC/KHJ/DRN
Mon	3/22	1:05pm	LAA (ss)	Glendale	Prime
		1:05pm	Mil (ss)	Maryvale
Tue	3/23
Wed	3/24	7:35pm	Oak	Phoenix		KABC/DRN
Thu	3/25	1:05pm	Mil	Glendale	Prime
Fri	3/26	1:05pm	KC	Glendale	Prime	KABC
Sat	3/27	1:05pm	Sea	Glendale	KCAL	KHJ/DRN
Sun	3/28	1:05pm	Cin	Goodyear		KABC/DRN
Mon	3/29	1:05pm	Cle	Goodyear		KABC/DRN
Tue	3/30	1:10pm	Col	Tucson
Wed	3/31	1:05pm	SF	Glendale
		TBD	Cin (ss)	Vegas		KABC/DRN
Thu	4/1	7:10pm	Cle	Dodger Stadium		KABC/KHJ/DRN
Fri	4/2	7:05pm	LAA	Angels Stadium		KABC/DRN
Sat	4/3	1:05pm	LAA	Dodger Stadium	KCAL	KABC/KHJ/DRN

KABC: 790 AM, KHJ: La Ranchera 930 AM, DRN: Dodger Radio Network

For more information, go to Dodgers.com/spring.

Jon Weisman breaks down Frank McCourt

2010-02-09T17:51:08Z

with a killer Frank McCourt Interview in which he seems to ask just about every question you could think of. We may not like or agree with the answers, we may think he's still hiding some information or being coy, but Jon asked the right questions.

A quick glance at 4 different Top 15 Dodger Prospects List

2010-02-09T08:12:04Z

3 respected publications have finished their list of top Dodger prospects and True Blue LA had a vote for their Top 15 prospects too. How does this all shake out?

True Blue LA voters flipped flop the order of Number 1 and 2 prospects in their list, but Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and John Sickels all had Gordon and Withrow occupying 1 & 2 in that order. Here's the entire consensus list:

1. Dee Gordon
2. Chris Withrow
3. Ethan Martin
4. Aaron Miller
5. Scott Elbert
6. Josh Lindblom
7. Ivan DeJesus, Jr.
8. Andrew Lambo
9. Trayvon Robinson
10. Garrett Gould
11. Allen Webster
12. Kyle Russell
13. Nate Eovaldi

Only 13 players appeared on all 4 lists (True Blue LA and the three publications), Kenley Jansen, Pedro Baez, Xavier Paul, Jonathan Garcia and Brett Wallach were the other players in the top 15 lists. Baseball America produced a top 30 and Sickels has a top 20 but since the other 2 lists only with to 15, that is what I am sticking to here.

Dodger Decades: Best of the Aughts (to have won a World Series grumblegumble)

2010-02-08T09:48:35Z

Another Dodger decade come and gone, and with it many great moments and memories. With catchers and pitchers reporting soon, along with the green-lit construction of a new wing to Dodger Stadium commemorating the Lords of the Ravine, the staff at TrueBlueLa has its hands full.

Still, I propose a poll be done gathering the top five Dodger moments of the past decade, if it hasn't been done on this site already. Below is a small sampling of such moments. Do forgive me if I have forgotten any moments (or any errors); it is 1:30am, afterall. And now, for your consideration:

Milwaukee Brewin' - On May 23, 2002, Shawn Green rolls out more than just the kegs against the Brewers, going 6-6, with four homeruns, seven RBIs, and a record breaking 19 total bases.

Bobbleslam - Hollywood officially becomes Mannywood on July 22nd, 2009, as Manny Ramirez hits a grandslam in the bottom of the 6th. Oh, did I mention this was a pinch-hit homerun? And that he did it with an injured hand? On his bobblehead night? With the ball ricocheting all over the Mannywood section?

Gagné Gags 'Em - Between 2003 and 2004, Éric Gagné saved a record 84 straight games. Amazingly, over half the outs recorded during that streak came via strikeout.

The Mark Loretta Blooper Reel - Perhaps the weakest bench member on a 2009 Dodger team that won 95 games, Mark Loretta silenced us all, if only for a few hours, by hitting a game-winning, bases loaded line drive off Cardinals' reliever Ryan Franklin in Game 2 of the 2009 NLCS.

Lima Time - José Lima pitched a five-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals on October 9, 2004, marking the first Dodger playoff win since 1988. Even though it was a day game, many members of the Cardinals staff were undoubtedly distracted by the lights. Melissa Lima's head-lights.

The Kids Are Alright - 2007 saw the emergence of several notable rookies from the Dodger farm system, among them a young bison by the name of Matt Kemp. Eventually, the Dodger organization began placing more faith in the core group of youngster, leading to two straight NLCS appearances in 2008 and 2009.

4 + 1 - Jeff Kent! J.D. Drew! Russell Martin! . . . Marlon Anderson? Marlon Anderson! Nomar Garciaparra!

Mr. Walk-Off - Milton who? In another highlight from 2009, Andre Ethier provides yet another reason, if Kirk Gibson wasn't enough, for Dodger fans to stay for all six innings of a Dodger game: six walk-off hits, three coming in the way of homeruns.

Finley and Goliath - With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, against the hated San Francisco Giants, Steve Finley hits a bases-loaded, two-out grand slam as the Dodgers clinch the 2004 NL West title. Jason Schmidt then wins the last game of the season.

Cora Trumps Tiger; Goes All 18 - I'll let the endlessly talented Jon Weisman of "Dodger Thoughts" tell it best, like he always does.

Cycling On the Hudson - On April 13, 2009, Orlando Hudson becomes the first Dodger to hit for the cycle since Wes Parker in 1970 and the first to hit for a cycle at Dodger Stadium. What a fabulous start to a 2009 Dodger season.

Beltre Belts Balls - In 2004, Adrian Beltre ties the then-record single season mark for most homeruns by a third baseman with 48 dingers. No cup jokes, please.

Loney and the Windy City - Exorcising the playoff ghosts of Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew, James Loney hits a silencing homerun against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the 2008 NLDS. The following day, this obit appears in the local Chicago papers: "Deceased - All and any Cubs' hopes of ever winning a World Series. Time of death: 5:19PM, October 1st, 2008"

Perhaps Another Moment Not Listed Above? - ___________________________________________________

Kevin Goldstein likes Dee and Chris

2010-02-08T16:52:08Z

But Lambo is ranked below Kyle Russell in his Top Prospects column.

Here's a link to the story.

It seems like every year when Baseball Prospectus is going to issue the Dodgers' top prospects, the publication is delayed. While whether or not it was delayed, here is the list (most of the analysis is only available to subscribers.)

Five-Star Prospects
1. Dee Gordon, SS
2. Chris Withrow, RHP
Four-Star Prospects
3. Ethan Martin, RHP
Three-Star Prospects
4. Aaron Miller, LHP
5. Scott Elbert, LHP
6. Trayvon Robinson, OF
7. Garrett Gould, RHP
8. Ivan DeJesus Jr., SS
9. Josh Lindblom, RHP
Two-Star Prospects
10. Kenley Jansen, RHP
11. Kyle Russell, OF

Four More:
12. Andrew Lambo, OF: He isn’t an athletic corner outfielder, and is instead a bat-only prospect who might not have enough bat.
13. Allen Webster, RHP: A highly projectable righty, Webster has the potential to rocket up this list after his 2010 full-season debut.
14. Pedro Baez, 3B: He needs to overcome an injury bug and plate discipline issues, but his tools remain outstanding.
15. Nathan Eovaldi, RHP: This Tommy John surgery survivor was kept on a short leash in 2009, but he was brilliant at times while showcasing one of the more live arms in the system.

Breaking news: LA Dodgers third baseman and Indianola (Iowa) native Casey Blake tells me he'll...

2010-02-07T20:49:21Z

Breaking news: LA Dodgers third baseman and Indianola (Iowa) native Casey Blake tells me he'll probably play this season without the beard

Adam Wilson of the Indianola Record Herald brings us devastating news. A nation weeps.

Brian Giles To The Blue Came Out Of The Blue

2010-02-07T18:32:55Z

More photos » Denis Poroy - AP

Brian Giles and the Dodgers are hoping his right knee is healthy enough to make him a productive bat off the bench in 2010.

Browse more photos »

Dodger news never sleeps, often when you don't see it coming. Shortly after midnight last night, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com broke the news via Twitter that Brian Giles had signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers, making him the 25th non-roster invitee to big league camp at spring training. With the signing of Reed Johnson earlier this week, it seemed like the pursuit of Giles was over. But here he is. Giles will make $550,000 if he makes the club, with up to $200,000 in incentives:

$25,000 for 150 PA
$25,000 for 200 PA
$50,000 for 250 PA
$50,000 for 300 PA
$50,000 for 350 PA

Mike of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness has an interesting take, noting the Dodgers may have been four years too late in signing Giles. Sure enough, general manager Ned Colletti's courting of Giles before the 2006 season made an impression. "Brian felt it was a good opportunity to contribute on a playoff-contending team," said Joe Bick, the agent for Giles, "and he's comfortable with Ned after getting to know him during his free agency four years ago."

Giles, who turned 39 on January 20, had microfracture surgery on his right knee in 2007 (an operation that fellow non-roster invitee Alfredo Amezaga underwent on his left knee last season), and was hampered by arthritis in that knee last year, limiting him to a .191/.277/.271 season which ended for him on June 18. Giles is hopeful his knee will allow him to rebound this year, as he has not experienced any setbacks in his offseason conditioning, but he won't really know until spring training how it will respond to the daily grind. Bick noted Giles was willing to sign a minor league deal to share the risk:

Brian wanted to sign a minor league contract, wherever he signed, so as not to put any team at risk until he knows for certain how his knee will respond this spring. If all works out as we hope, all well and good. If his knee doesn't respond as we hope, then he'll be the first to let people know he can't do it; they won't have to tell him....If he's incapable physically of playing the game to his standards, he'll willingly walk away.

If Giles isn't on the roster by April 4, he can ask for his release. Giles has worn uniform number 24 since joining the Pirates in 1999, but that number is retired here in Dodgertown, in honor of Walt Alston. Giles wore number 22 from 1996-98 with Cleveland. Bick said there has been no discussion yet regarding uniform number.

If anything, this transaction is a testament to the information age. Ten days ago, a commenter named Ryan Francis on Dodger Thoughts (scroll down to 3:32pm) said he, while at the "Select-A-Seat" event for season ticket holders, saw Giles working out and running sprints in the outfield. Bick confirmed that Giles was examined by the Dodgers' medical staff on that day as well. Not so long ago, we would learn of a transaction like this in the notes section of the newspaper, or maybe even in the fine print of the transactions section buried deep in the sports section. Now, not only do we have beat reporters delivering news of a minor league transaction after midnight, we have the full details of the deal by the next morning. This is a great time to be a fan.

Brian Giles Added to the Dodgers NRI List

2010-02-07T09:10:25Z

More photos » Denis Poroy - AP

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust for Brian Giles? Or does he still have something left to offer to the Los Angeles Dodgers? (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Browse more photos »

Per Ken Gurnick's tweet, The Dodgers have signed Brian Giles to a minor-league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Giles has a career line of:

.291 / .400 / .502 / .902, 136 OPS+

but is coming off a horrendous 2009 season of:

.191 .277 / .271 / .548, 55.

Like most hitters, Giles, who turned 39 two weeks ago, seems to see his offense suppressed by Petco Park's pitcher-pleasing properties. For the last three seasons:

Petco Park: .253/.359/.353, 6 HR in 707 PA
On Road: .290/.366/.458, 21 HR in 751 PA

According to UZR as defined at fangraphs.com, Giles has been an average corner OF defensively for his career, but his slump extended to defense as well with an UZR/150 of -18.9 in 2009. Admittedly, he was dealing with injuries last year. He is a left-handed hitting outfielder with some power, something that the Dodgers were reportedly looking for. Perhaps he will challenge Doug ~~Man, Mientki, Minky, er,~~ Eye Chart for the left-handed bench bat job. He is the second Brian Giles (no relation, though both played high school ball in San Diego County) to play major league baseball.

Every Lord needs a King

2010-02-07T02:47:57Z

and I've got just the man. For a team with a fine stable of solid catchers which includes Roseboro, Haller, Yeager, Fergy, Scoscia, Lo Duca, and Martin one man stands so far above them you could cut him off at the knees and his bloody stumps would still stand tall over them.

This and other great 1995 Dodger cards can be found here.

We have read some great stories about our position players who have had good or even great careers, but not one of them had five years like Mike Piazza. From the time he showed up until he left he was the best at his position every year. Five years, five Silver Slugger Awards. The Los Angeles Dodgers have zero HOF position players who did the bulk of their work in the Ravine without any prospects for the future. The one who fell into their lap by pure luck the Evil Empire decided to trade in the prime of his career.

Growing up a sports fan in Los Angeles we have had a few punches to the stomach that leave you gasping for reason but the toughest punches for me to deal with was Magic Johnson announcing he had aids, and May 14th, 1998 when the Dodgers traded the most valuable player in baseball. For this life long Dodger fan it was a fatal blow to my fanhood, and turned me into a baseball fan more then a Dodger fan until Fox did the right thing and sold the team.

From the time he first showed up at Dodger Stadium he quickly became my favorite Dodger of all time. No one in my opinion had ever hit the ball as hard, and as consistently in the Ravine as the man no one wanted in the 1988 draft. Being slow, you have to be one hell of a hitter to post a .362 average but he did it with ferocious line drive after line drive. The ball simply jumped off his bat making a sound that hadn't been heard in Dodger Stadium in my life time. This might sound like hyperbole but I 'd been watching Dodger baseball since 1970 and I never heard a ball make the sound it did when this man squared up on it. He did it all from the offensive side of the game. Batting average, On Base %, Slug%, Home Runs, Runs Batted In, he was always on the leaderboard.

For fun I wanted to know how many catchers had ever hit more then 30 home runs and had a batting average > .340? Only one.

Okay, how many catchers had ever hit more then 30 home runs and had an OBA > .400? One man holds the top three spots out of six matching seasons in the history of baseball, and you know his name.

How many right hand hitters had hit the ball out of Dodger Stadium until he did it? No one

How many catchers hit more then 24 home runs and had an OBP > .359 their first 10 years as a starter? Only one

How many catchers have hit more then 35 home runs? 18 times this has been done. Only one man has six of those 18 seasons and it ain't Johnny Bench.

How many right handed catchers have had an batting average > .360? Only one

I could go on and on, make no mistake this man was unique in his greatness and unique in his story.

Unquestionably the two best Los Angeles Dodgers are Sandy Koufax and Mike Piazza as they both put together far and away the best five year runs in Los Angeles Dodger history. The difference between the two is that Piazza from the moment he became the starting catcher was one of the best players in baseball. Home grown Los Angeles Dodger greatness. When you look at his production while he was a Dodger you could make a case he was the most valuable player in baseball during that time given the fact he was a catcher, and other players in the conversation were all 1st/OF. Every year he started for the Dodgers he finished in the top 10 in MVP with two number two's, and we all know who the real MVP was in 1997, and it wasn't Larry Walker.

                                                                                             
Player           OPS+   G From   To   Age  HR RBI  BB IBB   BA  OBP  SLG   OPS    Pos      Tm
Frank Thomas      184 698 1993 1997 25-29 194 599 575  99 .334 .455 .631 1.086    *3D     CHW
Jeff Bagwell      168 690 1993 1997 25-29 154 546 468  79 .313 .423 .579 1.002  *3/D9     HOU
Mike Piazza       164 668 1993 1997 24-28 167 526 268  58 .337 .401 .583  .984  *2/D3     LAD
Edgar Martinez    159 570 1993 1997 30-34 100 388 439  46 .322 .447 .559 1.007  *D/53     SEA
Albert Belle      155 727 1993 1997 26-30 202 620 359  48 .306 .387 .604  .991   *7/D CLE-CHW
Gary Sheffield    152 586 1993 1997 24-28 126 388 416  55 .290 .419 .537  .956 *95/7D TOT-FLA

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 1/27/2010.

The legend starts with him being drafted in the 62nd round, in the 1988 draft. The 62nd round, wrap your head around the fact that no one in baseball in any way, shape, or form thought this guy had any chance of lasting more then one professional season. He was drafted strictly as favor to his brother Tommy's Godfather, Tommy Lasorda. If Tommy did nothing more then befriend Vince Piazza, he did enough to hang around and tell stories for as long as wants.

Between the start and the end of his Dodger career he put up comic book numbers.

                                                         
Rk        Player Year Age  PA HR RBI   BA  OBP  SLG   OPS
2    Mike Piazza 1993  24 602 35 112 .318 .370 .561  .932
4    Mike Piazza 1994  25 441 24  92 .319 .370 .541  .910
5    Mike Piazza 1995  26 475 32  93 .346 .400 .606 1.006
7    Mike Piazza 1996  27 631 36 105 .336 .422 .563  .985
9    Mike Piazza 1997  28 633 40 124 .362 .431 .638 1.070
12   Mike Piazza 1998  29 161  9  30 .282 .329 .497  .826

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/6/2010.

Before Mike Piazza showed up the highest batting average was .346 by Tommy Davis, by the time he left it was .362. As a slow footed catcher he still has three of the top five Los Angeles Dodger batting averages.
Most home runs in a season was 33 by Pedro Guerrero and Steve Garvey. He broke that record in his ROOKIE season and would break it three times total finally settling on 40 home runs as the top water mark.
Highest Slug% was .577 by Pedro Guererro, by the time he left it was .638. That mark (Gary Sheffield would later break it) was not only the highest Dodger slug% it is the highest of any catcher in the history of baseball.
Most home runs in a rookie season was 23 by Frank Howard. Mike hit 35.

Individual moments

Rookie season last game of the year in 1993 he would single handily knock the Giants out of the pennant race with two home runs and four runs batted in. It was the 3rd time in the month of Sept he would hit two home runs in a game.
August 27th, 1995 he went four for four with two doubles, two home runs, and seven runs batted in. That would cap off a streak in which he had multiple hits in 16 out of 27 games, moving his average from .347 to .369 starting on July 31st. Not easy to do.
June 29th, 1996 three home runs against the Rockies. He simply owned the Rockies, hitting some of the longest home runs Coors field had ever seen.

I'm sure some of you who were lucky enough to see him play have your memories. I have no idea what game I first saw him play but it was early in the spring of his first season. I was somewhere down the right field line when I first heard him hit the ball. It was a sound I would hear over and over again over the next five years and to say the least, the first time I heard the sound, it left an impression.

I won't sugarcoat the fact that Mike was not the greatest defensive catcher. According to Bill James

probably the best hitting catcher ever to play the game

however because of his defensive shortcomings Bill James only ranks him as the fifth best catcher of all time. He didn't have much of an arm but I always thought he had soft hands, and was able to catch some of the best pitchers we had such as Ramon Martinez, Ismael Valdez, Hideo Nomo, and Pedro Astacio.

I'll always remember one play he made which I think was against the ~~Mets~~ Phillies in which somehow he ended up covering 3rd base, made a spectacular catch of an errant throw, put down a sweeping tag for the out at 3rd. Some will say he was not athletic, I say those people never saw him play the game in his prime and only remember him as an old Met after a 1,000 games at catcher.

Never won a playoff game as a Dodger, succumbing two years in a row in three straight. Tight games in which one key hit might have made the difference. Didn't happen. The only blight I can think of on his Dodger career.

The man he was traded for was every bit the hitter that Mike was. He would end up breaking several of Mikes offensive records. It was eerie how close they were in their Dodger careers. Sheffield would end up with an OPS+ of 160, Mike 159, but Gary only had 2276 plate appearances. Even if I had moved the requirement down to 2500 he still would have fallen short. That fifth year really makes a difference. The next best hitter was Reggie Smith and while Reggie played six years he only had 2055 plate appearances. Multiple injuries kept down one of the best hitting LA Dodgers until Piazza showed up. To bad because given his defense and offense Reggie Smith might have been the best Los Angeles Dodger to ever play for us. Pedro Guerrero is probably the best LA Dodger hitter when you figure in the fact he had over 4,000 plate appearances. He did it longer then anyone at a higher level then anyone.

Shawn Green Throws his Batting Gloves into the O’Malley Suite

2010-02-05T18:44:27Z

Shawn Green was not the most exciting player in recent Dodger memory. He didn’t look the part of a slugger. His frame was slender, his left handed batting stance was a tad awkward, and he definitely didn’t have the "eye of the Tiger" when he played right field for the Dodgers. But man, the dude could hit. In 2001 and 2002 Shawn Green put up OPS+ of 154 and 154 respectively and this was done whilst playing in 319 out of 324 games. Manny Ramirez will likely be remembered for being the best hitter in a Dodger uniform in the 2000’s, but at this point Ramirez has only played one full season in a Dodger uniform considering he arrived at the deadline in 2008 and missed 50 games to suspension in 2009.

We got to experience Shawn Green in his prime, and the time he spent in Los Angeles could not have been more necessary to the Dodger club. Consider that in 2002 the Dodgers won 92 games (generally good enough for a post-season appearance.) While Green was hitting to the tune of .285/.385/.558, the only other Dodger starter who posted an OPS+ north of 100 was the brittle Brian Jordan with an OPS+ of 118. The remaining Dodger starters posted an OPS+ of less than 100 with the starting second baseman and shortstop posting an OPS+ 81 and 51 respectively. That Dodger team could pitch and play defense to be sure, but a team doesn’t win 90+ games without being able to hit. Almost all of the heavy lifting in that department was done by Shawn Green, and as opposed to Manny Ramirez who was in a lineup with other sluggers like Ethier and Kemp, Green was the only batter opposing pitchers needed to concern themselves with. The fact that he was able to slug .558 whilst being the only above average hitter on the team makes the accomplishment all the more impressive.

While its easy for me to focus on the two outstanding seasons Green had in the middle of his Dodger tenure, it’s not to suggest that the other 3 seasons spent at the Ravine were poor. Of the 5 seasons Green spent in Los Angeles, the fewest games played during a season was 157 in 2004 and the lowest OPS+ earned by Green was 113 also in 2004. Green was simply a reliable player who rarely missed time who spent 5 years in Los Angeles with above average production. That’s not to say his time in L.A was without controversy. He angered teammates Paul Lo Duca and Odalis Perez for failing to dive for a ball which would turn out to be the lone hit in a Perez complete game effort (I blame Lo Duca’s belligerent reaction to the media afterwards to roid rage.) And, despite missing relatively few games, Green is perhaps unfortunately best remembered for 1 game in particular he did miss. During the 2001 season, Green elected to sit out a game in observance of Yom Kippur (it broke a streak of 415 consecutive games played.)

On a personal level, Green (and Kevin Brown; I think I have a soft spot for baseball players with colors as last names) was really my first favorite baseball player for when I was old enough to actually make an intelligent decision on the matter. During the height of the steroid era, Green’s two outstanding seasons in the Ravine will be looked upon favorably. Green was simply the best hitter to wear a Dodger uniform in the 2000’s, and for that reason, I believe he should be inducted into the O’Malley Suite.

(Photo by AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DiamondView 2.010 Looks At The Dodgers

2010-02-05T16:20:44Z

DiamondView 2.010 Looks At The Dodgers

Over at Beyond The Boxscore, Justin Bopp has harnessed his powers for good rather than evil, with a look to the 2010 offensive starters of the Dodgers (including Blake DeWitt at 2B, which would be a welcome surprise). Combining power, on base, baserunning, and defense, DiamondView provides a unique graphical view of player skills. Just looking at Matt Kemp's DiamondView gets me excited for 2010. I added some commentary for each player.

If you aren't reading Beyond The Boxscore everyday, you are missing out.

2010 Maple Street Press Dodgers Annual

2010-02-05T06:23:25Z

2010 Maple Street Press Dodgers Annual

View full size photo »

The first annual Maple Street Press Dodgers Annual, edited by Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts, ships in a couple weeks, and will hit newsstands on March 2. It is available for pre-order now. I had the great pleasure of writing a pair of articles for the publication, joining an impressive cast of authors. Weisman gives the details:

Here are some of the highlights:

Amid Turmoil, Hope (2010 season preview), by Chad Moriyama of Memories of Kevin Malone

So Close, Again (2009 season in review), by Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A.

Manny Be Good? (What to expect from Ramirez in 2010), by Jay Jaffe of Baseball Prospectus

Disorder In McCourt (an analysis of the impact of the McCourts' divorce) by Joshua Fisher of Dodger Divorce

State Of The Stadium, by Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A.

One Out Away (Jonathan Broxton looks to recover from another disappointing finish), by Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness

Critical Campaigns (James Loney and Russell Martin), by Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness

The Collected Colletti (a Q&A), by Josh Suchon of KABC AM 790

Aces Are Wild Cards (The last word on No. 1 starters), by Eric Enders, baseball historian

Prospect Park (Top 20 prospects in the Dodger farm system), by Dodger prospect expert Richard Bostan

Individually Packaged (how the Dodgers develop young arms), by Josh Suchon of KABC AM 790

No Minor Hopes (life in AAA), by Albuquerque Isotopes play-by-play announcer Robert Portnoy

One In A Trillion (a Vin Scully retrospective), by Dodger team historian Mark Langill

Unsung Heroes (key contributions from unexpected sources), by Bob Timmermann of The Griddle and One Through Forty-Two or Forty-Three

Sweep And Low (the end of the 1980 season), by Dodger Thoughts commenter BHSportsGuy

The Great Dividers (the 20 most controversial Dodgers of the 2000s), by Jon Weisman

Petriello also wrote the bulk of the player profiles, along with BHSportsGuy and another Dodger Thoughts commenter, CraigUnderdog.

I'm looking forward to this magazine, and I hope you will, too.

**********

Former Dodger Orlando Hudson -- you remember, the second baseman before Ronnie Belliard -- signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Minnesota Twins today. In the Twin Cities, Hudson joins fellow ex-Dodger Jim Thome, who had one more plate appearance (five) in the postseason with the Dodgers than Hudson.

Clippings from around the Dodger Blog world

2010-02-04T18:40:44Z

Sons of Steve Garvey: In Which We Do Not Sing the Praises of R. Ortiz - worth the photo, just keep throwing things at a wall until something sticks.

Los Angeles Dodgers may have a found a bargain in Vicente Padilla - ESPN Los Angeles
According to Tony Jackson, Vicente Padilla stacks up favorably to Randy Wolf in the Dodgers rotation. Also takes a look at the rest of the pitching staff. Tony writing up a storm these days.

Joe Posnanski " Blog Archive " Sabol and NFL Films - Joe with some great stories from Sabol and the voice. If you like football you should read this.

Jeff Weaver Returns, But Where Does He Fit? " Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness

Case study of a 5-year-old athlete - Dodger Thoughts Blog - ESPN Los Angeles
- Jon Weisman takes an introspective look at the past year as his four year old moves onto bigger things as a five year old.

The Trolley Dodger " 2009 Trolley Dodger Highlights - Late with this, but Trolley Dodger looks back at the highlights of his blog in 2009.

Steve Dilbeck is the newest blogger in town as he takes over for Jon Weisman as the LA Times Dodger blogger. With help from the LA Times sporting staff (Dylan Hernandez) they are providing a plethora of Dodger news and stories.

Alfredo Amezaga's Contract Breakdown

2010-02-04T06:12:35Z

Alfredo Amezaga's Contract Breakdown

Newly signed Dodger Alfredo Amezaga's contract calls for him to receive a salary of $650,000 if he is added to the 40-man roster, plus up to $800,000 in incentives:

150 PA- $50,000
200 PA- $50,000
250 PA- $75,000
300 PA- $100,000
350 PA- $125,000
400 PA -$150,000
450 PA- $150,000
90 games played- $50,000
120 games played- $50,000

**********
~~One thing that isn't in Amezaga's contract~~ Speaking of contracts, the so-called "Ramirez Provision," mandating players to donate a certain amount to a club-chosen charity, brought to light last March when Manny Ramirez signed his deal to return to the Dodgers, has been changed. Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reports that the commissioners office and players' union have agreed to ban such clauses for pre-free-agency contracts.

Press Enterprise Examines The Dodgers

2010-02-04T00:31:25Z

Press Enterprise Examines The Dodgers

Jim Alexander of the Press-Enterprise, in his annual look at the "State of SoCal Sports," looks at the vast information available to the modern sports fan, through the prism of the McCourts' divorce. Joshua Fisher of DodgerDivorce.com, Rob McMillin of 6-4-2, and I were quoted in the article. My contribution:

"The less time [Frank McCourt] spent trying to assure fans everything is all right, the less of a public relations hole he and his staff would have to dig themselves out of."

Alexander chose True Blue LA as the fifth best SoCal independent sports blog.

Interview on HotStove.com

2010-02-03T22:46:01Z

Here is a link to my interview from earlier today, regarding the Dodgers on HotStove.com. You can also click here to watch.

Dodgers Scout - Nate Eovaldi Number 8

2010-02-03T22:17:16Z

Dodgers Scout - Nate Eovaldi Number 8

Since this is not behind the paywall I've linked it.

Is this the worst group of Free Agents ever?

2010-02-03T07:14:24Z

or at least in the last ten years?

The 40 man roster is full, Ned has added so many like minded free agents either with major or minor league contracts it looks like he could build two AAA teams. So with that in mind what do we have?

Some folk are bemoaning the lack of upside with the group of free agent signings the Dodgers are bringing to camp in 2010. The names of Jamey Carroll, Alfredo Amezaga, Angel Berroa, Nick Green, Reed Johnson, Justin Miller, Armando Zerpa, Carlos Monasterios, Ramon Ortiz, and Russ Ortiz just don't inspire awe, shock, and destruction. They inspire aweshucks those guys suck. How much do they suck?

In Jon Weisman's debut column at ESPNLA he pointed out that our competition didn't do much either and listed the additions to each team. I already knew the names but seeing them in that context my first thought was that must be the most motley group of free agent signings I've ever seen. So I set out to see how they looked in comparison to the rest of the decade. To this exercise I'm using win shares, one column will show the win shares from the prior year and one column shows the win shares for the year they played for us after they were signed. Many people are signed each year but not all of them actually played for the Dodgers. I only included those players who actually played for us.

2009 - big year as we brought in frontline free agents Wolf and Hudson who did as much or even more then expected. However the big winner in this had to be Ronaldo Belisario who we expected nothing of but who was part of the backbone of the best bullpen in baseball. Jeff Weaver also has to count as a huge surprise. Big bust was Ohman, not only did he get hurt and not pitch but because he was hurt we ended up trading Bell and Johnson for Sherrill. So Ohman hurt us not only in 2009 but again in the future. Oh man, how could you do us like that.

2008 - Very few signees but the big fish were Andruw Jones and Kuroda. So again we had two front line A list type of signees. Jones was an incredible bust while Kuroda earned his contract. The big surprise again was a bullpen guy, another old friend, as Chan Ho Park proved solid in spot starts and the bullpen.

2007 - A plethora of signings. Juan Pierre, ~~Mike~~Jason Schmidt, and Randy Wolf were the big names. Pierre did what he had been doing, to much money for the production but at least he did what the Dodgers expected him to do. Wolf was okay until he got hurt. Schmidt never got started on his Dodger career and you could easily say he was the biggest bust the Dodgers have ever had as a free agent, though the Andruw Jones contract or Dreifort contract could also weigh in heavily. No good surprises in 2007.

2006 - Ned was very busy in his first year. Top talent was signed in the name of Furcal, Nomar, Lofton, Mueller. 2nd tier talent was signed in the name of Tomko. Furcal did exactly what he was signed to do. Nomar even more, Lofton held his own. Mueller was the big bust because of the career ending injury. Tomko was not quite a bust, he sucked but he pitched as he normally did. Again as we would see in 2009 and 2008 the biggest surprise was in the bullpen but this time he was not only a surprise he was a stud. Maybe the best free agent signing of the decade? Takashi Saito had 18 win shares in 2006 making the minimum. Aaron Sele did a bangup job as a spot starter.

2005 - Depo brought in top talent such as JD Drew, Jeff Kent, and Derek Lowe and until JD broke his wrist they held up there side of the bargain. Jose Valentin was 2nd tier talent but it hurt like hell when he went down for the season in early spring. No unheralded surprises here. Does anyone still remember how hot this team was in April?

2004 - With the sale of the team in limbo for so long and a GM getting started in ST not many moves were made. Just like 2010 not one front tier talent was signed. However we got strong seasons from the likes of Jose Hernandez, Duaner Sanchez, and Olmedo Saenz. No one saw it coming that Lima Time would be the prime unheralded signing in 2004. Where do these come from, these guys whose careers seem over, yet they get a 2nd life. It happens too often for it to be a fluke.

2003 - You think 2010 looks like dead year, try 2003. We signed plenty of people but only Fred McGriff and Ron Coomer saw any significant time. No unheralded NRI's here.

2002 - Kaz Ishii was the hot new import from Japan while Hideo Nomo was trying a repeat performance. Nomo was very good, Ishii was not. No unheralded NRI's here.

2001 - Andy Ashby, what a bust, but how about what Giovanni Carrera and the forgotten Jeff Reboulet did? If Jamey Carroll can pull a Jeff Reboulet I'll be very happy.

So in retrospect the 2010 free agent group is a motley group but is it our motliest? We won't know until next November when the season ends and we see how they performed. Which one of them will surprise? My money would be on someone who can pitch in the bullpen but man how will he find a way into our bullpen? So since I've been dumping Jamey Carroll since the day we signed, I would not be the least bit surprised to see him pull a Jeff Reboulet and make me look stupid.

Read the complete list after the jump.

Year	FirstName	LastName	PriorWinShares	WinShares
2009	Brad	Ausmus	8	3
2009	Juan	Castro	2	2
2009	Charlie	Haeger	0	1
2009	Orlando	Hudson	17	20
2009	Mark	Loretta	9	3
2009	Doug	Mientkiewicz	10	1
2009	Eric	Milton	0	1
2009	G	Mota	4	4
2009	Will	Ohman	5	0
2009	Claudio	Vargas	2	4
2009	Jeff	Weaver	0	5
2009	Randy	Wolf	7	14
2009	Ronaldo	Belisario	0	7
2008	Jason	Johnson	-	-
2008	Andruw	Jones	15	2
2008	Hiroki	Kuroda	0	10
2008	Tom	Martin	-	-
2008	Chan Ho	Park	0	6
2007	Luis	Gonzalez	12
2007	Mike	Lieberthal	6	1
2007	Juan	Pierre	15	12
2007	Jason	Schmidt	15	0
2007	Rudy	Seanez	2	-
2007	Randy	Wolf	2	5
2006	Sandy	Alomar	2	3
2006	Joe	Beimel	1	7
2006	Rafy	Furcal	26	27
2006	Nomar	Garciaparra	5	17
2006	Kenny	Lofton	15	12
2006	Ramon	Martinez	2	5
2006	Bill	Mueller
2006	Takashi	Saito	0	18
2006	Aaron	Sele	2	5
2006	Brett	Tomko	8	5
2005	Paul	Bako	2	1
2005	JD	Drew	31	12
2005	Mike	Edwards	0	3
2005	Scott	Erickson	0	0
2005	DJ	Houlton
2005	Jeff	Kent	22	28
2005	Ricky	Ledee	5	7
2005	Derek	Lowe	6	11
2005	Norihiro	Nakamura	0	-
2005	Jose	Valentin	14	2
2004	Brain	Falkenborg	0	0
2004	Jason	Grabowski	-	-
2004	Jose	Hernandez	6	9
2004	Jose	Lima	5	9
2004	Olmedo	Saenz	0	4
2004	Duaner	Sanchez	0	6
2003	Wilson	Alvarez	2	10
2003	Ron	Coomer	1	0
2003	Fred	McGriff	18	8
2002	Kaz	Ishii	0	6
2002	Mike	Kinkade	2	3
2002	Hideo	Nomo	11	13
2001	Andy	Ashby	8	1
2001	Giovanni	Carrera	0	8
2001	Phil	Hiatt	-	-
2001	Jesse	Orosco	0	1
2001	Jeff	Reboulet	3	10

More Pitchers Coming to Camelback

2010-02-03T07:53:47Z

More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

Jeff Weaver hopes to celebrate again in 2010 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Browse more photos »

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to stockpile arms in defense of their Western Division title, signing Jeff Weaver and Ramon Ortiz to minor league contracts and inviting both to spring training.

Weaver, 33, is a familiar face to Dodger fans, having been a solid starter in the 2004 and 2005 seasons for Los Angeles, then returning last season after having been out of the majors for one year. Weaver was reasonably effective in a swingman role in 2009, posting a 3.65 ERA (108 ERA+) in 79 innings, spread in seven starts and 28 relief appearances, despite having a whopping WHIP of 1.519. Allowing only one hit and three walks in 24 bases-loaded situations helped hold down the ERA.

Per Rhett Bollinger of mlb.com, Weaver signed an $800,000 minor-league contract. Dylan Hernandez states that Weaver has a chance of earning "around another $100k in performance bonuses".

Ramon Ortiz last pitched in the majors in 2007. In his three major league seasons after being traded by the Angels, he has a 5.47 ERA (78 ERA+) over 466 innings pitched, allowing 81 home runs over that span. Ortiz pitched one season in Japan for the Orix BlueWave, then last season pitched in AAA for the Giants affiliate in Fresno.

Presumably Weaver will be vying for his swingman role, and perhaps the newest R. Ortiz is yet another longshot fifth starter candidate who might provide emergency depth in the minors.

Alfredo Amezaga To Dodgers

2010-02-02T23:33:38Z

More photos » Alex Brandon - AP

To replace former Marlin and Cub Juan Pierre, the Dodgers this week have signed both a former Cubs' outfielder (Reed Johnson) and a former Marlins' outfielder (Amezaga)

Browse more photos »

The competition for backup shortstop just got a new member, as Alfredo Amezaga has apparently signed with the Dodgers, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Rosenthal reported that Amezaga signed a minor league deal worth $650,000 if he makes the team, with another $800,000 in performance incentives.

The guess is that either Nick Green or Angel Berroa, also on minor league deals, were going to make the team as backup shortstop anyway, so with Amezaga in the fold there is an option who plays all over the field, including the outfield. Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness summed it up nicely last week:

Amezaga’s terrible bat and recent injury scare the hell out of me. Now, the one benefit with him is not only is he a plus defender in the outfield, he’s also got experience at shortstop. If you carry Amezaga, you can save a roster spot and you probably don’t need to suffer through Nick Green.

The problem of course with Amezaga is his bat. The 32-year old Amezaga is a switch hitter, and hits considerably better from the left side (.687 career OPS) than the right (.510 career OPS). He has never had an OPS higher than .682 in a single season.

Amezaga's 2009 season was cut short with a bone bruise in his left knee in May. It was serious enough that he ended up having microfracture surgery in July to repair the damage. Amezaga's last game was May 16.

Is Amezaga worth a roster spot? In a vacuum, probably not. But, given that the choice is likely between him, Nick Green, or Angel Berroa, I'll take Amezaga.

UPDATE: Joe Frisaro of MLB.com has confirmed the deal, through Amezaga's agent.

UPDATE: Video of a spectacular play by Amezaga in Mexico

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DiamondView 2.010 Looks At The Dodgers

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Alfredo Amezaga's Contract Breakdown

Alfredo Amezaga's Contract Breakdown

Press Enterprise Examines The Dodgers

Press Enterprise Examines The Dodgers

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Dodgers Scout - Nate Eovaldi Number 8

Dodgers Scout - Nate Eovaldi Number 8

Is this the worst group of Free Agents ever?

More Pitchers Coming to Camelback

Alfredo Amezaga To Dodgers

Dodger Decades: Best of the Aughts (to have won a World Series grumblegumble)