Jose Contreras A Dodger?

For the love of all that is holy, I hope to hell not.

Diamond Leung at Diamond Notes has the story.

Contreras will be 38 next week, and has a career FIP of 4.37, and has struck out 6.64 batters per 9 IP over his career.

His lowest career xFIP was 3.47 for the Rockies in 2009. Over 17 innings.

And he's 37 going on 38.

Did I mention he'll be 38 next week?

Shit, that means Colletti and Torre will definitely want him. They love them some veterans, what with their veterany goodness.

If You're Criticized For Being Overweight, Perhaps You Shouldn't Be On The Sidelines With A Bag Of Skittles In Your Waistband

You hear that JaMarcus Russell, you hear that?

At least make it a Hershey's Bar or some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Happy Happy Birthday Part Three

Vin Scully turned 82 today.

Bud Selig To Retire?

After the 2012 season, it appears.

I don't hate Selig, but I don't particularly like him either.

I'm sure there's someone out there who could do a better job as commissioner.

And while you probably don't want to end a game in a tie, even a meaningless game, you certainly can't compound the situation by then stupidly, foolishly, and [insert every other negative word possible] making that meaningless game worth home field advantage in the most important games of the entire season that your sport plays.

Unless you're Bud Selig, of course.

Links On A Saturday Night

Marco Scutaro has apparently heard from the Dodgers, who are apparently interested in him for the currently vacant second base job. No, no, no, nein, no. Career year in your 30s for a utility player means stay away. Please Ned, stay away. Go with DeWitt, after, of course, offering arbitration to Orlando Hudson, who most likely turns it down and nets us some picks. [Scutaro Prefers The Dodgers and Red Sox]

Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness details the reasons why the Dodgers should avoid the aforementioned Scutaro. He hits the nail on the head, there's nothing that could be added that he didn't eloquently state. [Just Go To Boston Already, Marco]

One of the the funniest things I've ever read. [The Internet Is Over, Folks. Presenting: The Worst Site Ever]

Dodgers Rumors

Another Dodgers blog I've run across:

Dodgers Rumors.

Good stuff.

2010 Hall Of Fame + Former Dodgers

Eric Karros and a couple of other former Dodgers are on the 2010 Hall Of Fame ballot.

None of them should make the HOF. When the only way to describe a player is "solid", the argument ends there.

Solid or pretty good players are not Hall Of Famers - great players are Hall Of Famers. Sometimes the Baseball Writers' Association Of America, which votes on the candidates, forgets that.

Juan Castro Signs With Philadelphia

According to Castro's agent, the deal is basically done, pending a physical.

Castro has a career .270 OBP and a .601 career OPS.

In 2009, Castro had an OBP of .311 and an OPS of .650, while looking at his calling card, defense, we find a UZR of -0.1 and a UZR/150 of -3.9, albeit in a small sample size.

Chin-lung Hu, 25, can easily replace the 37-year-old Castro as the Dodgers' utility infielder.

Dodger Divorce

A new Dodgers blog:

Dodger Divorce.

Check it out, check it outers.

Hey Look, Baseball Writers Got Something Right RECAP

*Part 1: Zack Greinke Wins AL Cy Young.*

*Part 2: Tim Lincecum Wins NL Cy Young.*

*Part 3: Joe Mauer Wins AL MVP.*

*Part 4: Albert Pujols Wins NL MVP.*


Andre Ethier finished 6th, while Matt Kemp finished 10th in the voting . Ethier's best placing was two 2nd place votes, while Kemp's best was two 4th place votes.

The last pair of Dodger outfielders to finish in the top 10 in MVP voting were Brett Butler (7th) and Darryl Strawberry (9th) in 1991.

Hey Look, Baseball Writers Got Something Right Part IV

Albert Pujols Wins NL MVP.

Unanimously.




*Part 1: Zack Greinke Wins AL Cy Young.*

*Part 2: Tim Lincecum Wins NL Cy Young.*

*Part 3: Joe Mauer Wins AL MVP.*

Hey Look, Baseball Writers Got Something Right Part III

Joe Mauer Wins AL MVP.





*Part 1: Zack Greinke Wins AL Cy Young.*

*Part 2: Tim Lincecum Wins NL Cy Young.*

Links On An Early, Early Monday Morning

Hong-Chi Kuo and Chin-lung Hu hosted a baseball clinic Sunday in their native Taiwan. Great work from these two gentlemen. [Dodgers' Kuo, Hu Host Clinic In Taiwan]

Jon Weisman over at Dodger Thoughts has a great write-up of why trading Chad Billingsley is short-sighted and, quite frankly, idiotic beyond reason. Those last words are mine, not Jon's. [Trading Chad Billingsley For Roy Halladay Would Create More Problems Than It Solves]

kensai over at Memories Of Kevin Malone talks about the backlash at Keith Law over his NL Cy Young ballot. To be forthright, I love Keith Law and his baseball acumen and opinions, I agree with his selection of Tim Lincecum, and kensai always has intelligent posts and he and I share the same philosophy on baseball. So yeah, this is pretty much the perfect baseball storm of genius for me. [I Love People]

Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness relives the pain of the Casey Blake for Carlos Santana trade. Ugh, why Ned and Frank, why!?!? Come back Carlos Santana, come back home. [Baseball Prospectus, Why Must You Taunt Me?]

R.J. Anderson over at FanGraphs discusses Keith Law's NL Cy Young ballot and the ridiculous backlash over it. Jon Heyman and Buck Martinez, idiots you are. Law knows more than the two of you plus Joe Morgan combined. [Defending Law]

Dodger Prospect Wins AFL Award

Russ Mitchell has won the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award, awarded to the Arizona Fall League player who "exemplifies leadership, unselfishness and hard work".

Mitchell, 24, was selected by the Dodgers in the 15th round of the 2003 draft (451st overall). He has primarily played third base in his 7-year minor league career, but has also played first base, second base, and shortstop. He has never played above AA.

Congrats to Mitchell.

Links On A Saturday Night

One of the worst hockey fights. Ever. [Briere vs. Vlasic]

Chad Johnson's condom box design. Never thought I'd have to type those words. The man is a genius though. Oh, and a pretty good wide receiver. [For Those Who Thought I Was Playing]


For those who love Chipotle, but can't eat it as often as they'd like, there comes "Chipotlaway". [Billy Mays & Chipotlaway From South Park]

More South Park, from the Season 13 season finale. God I love this show. [Cartman Sings "Not My Waterpark" From South Park]

Via Deadspin: if NBA players were part of a Japanese trading card series. There are some pretty hilarious ones. And ones that I would swear were real if this story were real. [Japanese Gaming Cards With Photoshopped NBA Players Are Disrespectful To Frowns]

In Which We Discover Who Was Throwing Punches In The Anaheim Affray (EDIT)

I like alliteration.

Via Puck Daddy we learn pro-skateboarder Mike Vallely, of Viva La Bam and internet fight fame, was the man in plaid throwing punches after the conclusion of Thursday night's Ducks-Lightning game.

Vallely was arrested, but it doesn't appear anyone will press charges.

The little girl Scott Niedermayer was attempting to give his stick to was Vallely's daughter. This all could have been avoided by giving her a stick prior to or after the game. I mean, Vallely did have a relationship with the club after all. Give the stick to a kid whose parent does not have access to Ducks players. Granted, hindsight is 20/20.

As mentioned above, Vallely had a prior relationship with the club, and even had a blog with his thoughts on and experiences with the team.


The blog link is gone from the team page (an error page appears), and the relationship between Vallely and the team has come to and end, at least for the time being.

Apparently Mike V likes to fight. A lot. All the time. So I imagine his relationship with the team will be reconstituted at some point. This is hockey after all. Fighting is standard. And THANK GOD for that.


EDIT: Thank God for fighting in hockey, not that Mike V may reconstitute his relationship with the Ducks. I don't give a shit about that idiot and what happens to him from here on out.

Dodgers Add Javy Guerra To 40-Man Roster

Javy Guerra has been added to the 40-man roster.

Guerra, 24, split 2009 between Class A Great Lakes and Double-A Chattanooga.

Guerra was a 4th-round selection in 2004.

This addition comes a day after 3 Dodger prospects were added to the 40-man roster.

The 40-man roster currently has 33 players on it.

Fight Night In Anaheim

Dodgers Add 3 Players To 40-Man Roster

IF Ivan DeJesus, OF Trayvon Robinson, and pitcher Kenley Jansen were added on Thursday.

DeJesus is 23, while Robinson and Jansen are both 22.

DeJesus broke his leg in March of 2009 in a home-plate collision; he returned from the injury to play in 4 games for the Arizona Dodgers of the Arizona League (Rookie League) in 2009.

Hey Look, Baseball Writers Got Something Right Part II

Tim Lincecum Wins NL Cy Young.









*Part 1: Zack Greinke Wins AL Cy Young.*

Will Ohman Is Funnier Than Will Ferrell

H/T to Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness for posting the clip.

Understatement Of The Century

Time in LA 'disappointing' for Schmidt.

Hey Look, Baseball Writers Got Something Right

Zack Greinke Wins AL Cy Young.

Fire Randy Carlyle

Now.

And even that is far too late.

A coach who would emphasize puck possession and offense (you know, 2 pretty damn important things that lead to winning) would be ideal. And is necessary.

Fuck FOX

I love so much of FOX's programming, but they've decided to not air today's Chargers game. In Southern California (outside of San Diego). And it's a home game.

Fuckers.

Instead, we get Cowboys-Packers. A good game to be sure, but this is Cali-fucking-fornia. Southern Cali-fucking-fornia.

God damn.

Sports Personalities

I Enjoy:

• Keith Law
• Joe Sheehan
• Woody Paige
• Tim Cowlishaw
• Michael Smith
• Marcellus Wiley
• Tony Reali
• Tony Kornheiser
• Michael Wilbon
• Dan Le Batard
• Mike Golic
• E.J. Hradek
• Erin Andrews

I Do Not Enjoy, To Put It Lightly:

• Colin Cowherd
• Kevin Blackistone
• Scott Van Pelt
• Selena Roberts
  
• The guy who worked for ESPN and said 'Dominicano!" every 5 seconds
• Roger Lodge
• Chris Berman
• Ray Ratto
• Jim Rome
• Rick Reilly
  
• Joe Buck
• Tim McCarver
• Joe Morgan
• Bill Plaschke

Thoughts? Comments are more than welcome, I always enjoy talking about sports and sports-related topics. This place has been a ghost town since the season ended. You know, I don't bite.

Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier Prefer Silver

Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have each won a Silver Slugger Award for their performances in 2009.

I can't photoshop.

The future is bright. Now, sign away*!


*Young, core players to long-term deals.*

This Is So Deadly Accurate It's Scary

It makes me wonder if it's not really from Seth MacFarlane himself, stolen from his house mansion and then spread to the masses, shared for one reason and reason only: to laugh at the simplicity* of Seth MacFarlane's mind.


*I should point out I like Family Guy a lot (used to love it), love American Dad, and have been warming to The Cleveland Show, though I thought the pilot was atrocious when it first aired.*

Original video from College Humor. Link from Warming Glow.

2010 Spring Training Schedule

Link.

Report: Matt Kemp Wins Gold Glove

Via kensai at Memories Of Kevin Malone.

Orlando Hudson also reportedly has won a Gold Glove. Which should have gone to Chase Utley.

Hopefully kensai's source is correct, and Kemp has won. Sign the man long-term already.

And if Hudson has won, that could either entice the Dodgers to push toward re-signing him (I hope not) or push another team to go after him, and if we offer arbitration and he declines, and then signs elsewhere, we get picks as he is a Type-A free agent.

I want the picks.

Dodgers' Double-A Affiliate Honored

The Chattanooga Lookouts, the Dodgers' Double A, has received the Larry MacPhail Trophy awarded for promotional efforts made by the team.

The Lookouts, with their popular "Used Car Giveaway" nights, introduced a new mascot to the field in 2009 along with a series of other unique twists. The team sent a pair of employees around the city dressed as knights to promote games, provided fans with free Dodgers-themed trolleys to the ballpark and distributed free tickets around town.

Coaching Staff To Return

The entire staff returns for 2010.


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Glee is an amazing show.




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My fantasy football teams suck this year. Specifically my two money league teams. There's always next week. And the week after that.

Philip Riveeeers!

It admittedly sounds funnier when you say Drew Breeees!

Chargers 21, Giants 20.

Manny Ramirez Picks Up His Option....And Saves Us

From 162 games of Juan Pierre.

The option is for $20 million.

Yes, he's 37, and yes, he wasn't as productive last year as many of us had hoped he would be, but as long as he doesn't take another fastball on the hand (pictured below) he should be productive. Certainly more than the aforementioned Slappy Juan Pierre.


At 37, Manny had an OBP of .418, a SLG% of .531, and an OPS of .949 in 431 plate appearances. That's good for an OPS+ of 149, to go along with 19 HR, 45 XBH, and a very respectable WAR of 2.9. Taking into account the 50 games missed due to suspension, and the adverse effects that came after being hit by a pitch on the hand, those numbers are fairly close to his career numbers.

A quick look at how the hit-by-pitch affected Manny's production:

• April 6th-July 21st: 42 Games, 176 plate appearances, a line of .343/.472/.657/1.129, 23 XBH

-HIT BY PITCH ON JULY 21st-

• July 22nd-October 3rd: 62 Games, 255 plate appearances, a line of .255/.380/.448/.829/, 22 XBH

For those who believe Manny not on the juice is what took the bite out of his production, his numbers from the first game after his suspension until he was hit on the hand:

• July 3rd- July 21st: 15 Games, 56 plate appearances, a line of .333/.429/.688/1.116/, 8 XBH
  

Of course Manny could have still been using, but I don't believe in steroids making the player. Manny has always been a phenomenal player, and steroids did not make him that player.

I'm very pleased to have Manny returning, and if he produces the exact same as last year's final line, I'd gladly take that over the alternative of Mr. Pierre, who hits the hardest ground balls and highest pop-ups of any man to ever walk the face of the planet. That being said, I expect a productive Manny. Not the crazy numbers from the 2nd half of 2008, but productive nevertheless.

Jon Garland 2010 Option Declined

It was a $10 million mutual option, with the buyout of $2.5 million to be paid by the D-Backs.

I thought it was a really bad and unnecessary trade originally, an overpayment in the form of Tony Abreu only typical of Ned Colletti, and my opinion hasn't changed.


The McCourt Divorce Debacle makes me worried to the utmost degree at what kinds of moves and non-moves we may see. Almost as worried as the fact that Colletti makes them and is still here, with a shiny new extension in hand.

Herman Edwards MVP Criteria Is Sadly So Predictable

On 1st and 10 this morning, Herm Edwards said his selection for World Series MVP is future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera.

His reasoning: Mariano Rivera "pitched baseball".



Thanks Herm. Sound analysis.



BREAKING NEWS: Alex Rodriguez played defense. He also hit. A baseball. Far. And often.

Congratulations Are In Order

To the Yankees for their 7-3 win Wednesday night, the final nail in the coffin of the Phillies. The Yanks take the series 4-2, capturing the World Series for the 27th time in franchise history.

If I were Alex Rodriguez, I would wear my new Championship Ring on my middle finger. Especially during interviews and press conferences. And I would have a never-ending itch on my temple.


Scratch away A-Rod.

Scratch away.

Vicente Padilla = Plaxico Burress (UPDATES)

Padilla reportedly shot himself in the leg at a shooting range in Nicaragua.

He is currently not under contract with the club.

I very much hope it remains that way, a hope I had before he Plaxicoed himself.




UPDATE: Roberto over at Vin Scully Is My Homeboy has all your Padilla coverage, more than you could ever want. More than any of us actually needs.

I don't even know what that means.

Padilla looks like he'll be just fine.

And let's be thankful it wasn't a core player.


UPDATE # 2: The Dodgers confirm that Padilla did in fact shoot himself.

Vote For The Dodgers All-Time 9

VOTE.

Manny Ramirez Potentially Gone?

So says a "baseball insider".

I can't bear a full season of Juan Pierre.

At least he'll lead the league. In outs made.

And Boom Goes The Dynamite

Matt Kemp's Playoff Blog

Link.



Yeah yeah I'm late to the party, big whoop, wanna fight about it?