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.

Dodgers-Diamondbacks Complete Jon Garland Trade

The Dodgers and D-Backs have completed the August 31st Jon Garland trade, sending the man rumored all along to be the PTBNL, Tony Abreu, out to the desert.

As I stated when this trade was first consummated, it's an overpayment for a mediocre pitcher in Garland who, yes, we could have done without. Did Garland pitch well, sure (3.82 xFIP, 3.73 FIP, 2.72 ERA, 6.4 SO/9 IP in 36.1 IP), but he also had the great fortune to face Arizona, Arizona, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and San Diego in his 6 starts in Dodger Blue. When those are the 6 teams you're facing, the story would be not pitching well.

Ned Colletti doesn't understand value, especially the value of prospects, a point I've mentioned once or twice:

Ned has a history of selling top prospects short and not getting anywhere near sufficient value back for them, and it would shock no one if he did it again.

Oops, he did it again.

Snag With Tony Abreu Trade?

The Tony Abreu-Jon Garland trade, where Abreu had basically been confirmed as the player to be named later going to Arizona, appears to have hit a snag on the D-Backs end.

Abreu has also resumed playing at AAA, though that could also be because he was claimed on waivers, forcing the Dodgers to pull him back and wait until the off-season to complete the deal.

There is apparently a list of players the D-Backs would be willing to accept if Abreu didn't make the cut, and if Ned Colletti ends up including someone even better than Abreu, I may just have to take matters into my own hands and dispose* of Ned.

Ned has a history of selling top prospects short and not getting anywhere near sufficient value back for them, and it would shock no one if he did it again.

It is now time to pray. Pray for the future remaining in Dodger Blue.



* And by dispose, I mean send him to some distant land, not the Sopranos kind of dispose.*

Notes From Tuesday's Game (EDIT)

1. Can we acquire Troy Tulowitzki? I'm willing to do terrible things. Utterly terrible.
   
2. Clayton Kershaw was very good through 6.1 IP (4 Hits, 2 ER, 6 K, 1 BB, 1 WP, 1 HR Allowed, 104 pitches - 68 for strikes). I agree with Torre taking him out because of the pitch count.
3. I don't agree with Torre only letting Ramon Troncoso pitch one inning - I would have sent him out for the 10th, though when he made the move, I was hoping it would be McDonald.
4. McDonald did make the fielding mistake, but Loney probably should have held onto that throw.
5. I would have pinch-hit Abreu over Loretta.
6. Matt Kemp stole his 27th base.
7. Casey Blake hit his 16th HR.
8. Andre Ethier reached base 4 times (Double, 2 Singles, BB), Manny reached 3 times (2 Singles, IBB), and Blake reached 3 times (HR, Single, IBB).
9. Rafael Furcal really needs to be moved down in the order. I was supportive of Torre keeping him atop it, but at this point some time batting 8th really couldn't hurt. I'd let Martin lead-off, what with getting on-base actually being an important pre-cursor to scoring runs.
10. Bullpen: 3 IP, 6 Hits, 3 Runs (All Earned), 3 BB (1 IBB), 3 K.

EDIT: Didn't realize who was coming up in the 10th, was made aware from multiple other places they were all lefties. Still happy it was McDonald over the other right-handed options (I would have let the big man rest one more day) but yeah, Torre should have brought in this lefty.

Notes From Sunday's Game

A Michael Jackson Tribute?

1. Manny's defense was atrocious today. He was only charged with 1 error, but he probably committed 5 minimum. How that Aramis Ramirez single was ruled a triple is beyond me, even taking into account the game was in LA. Manny really did a dis-service today to Chad Billingsley. Manny, you know you gotta help your pitcher out when you're in the field, right? At least he didn't cut any throws off today.
2. Billingsley, while a little wild today, was also squeezed numerous times in the first few innings. He pitched well enough to lead us to victory (6 IP, 9 Hits, 3 ER, 5 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 94 pitches - 60 for strikes).
3. The offense was once again non-existent.
4. Tony Abreu drove in the lone Dodger run. He was the only Dodger to reach base more than once (Single, BB).
5. Orlando Hudson and James Loney had the day off. Hudson pinch-hit and grounded into a double play, while Loney apparently had the flu, though his play for much of the season certainly warranted a spot on the bench. Though I never want to see Mark Loretta playing instead of Loney, no matter how poorly Loney is hitting.
   
6. Please Joe Torre, remove Casey Blake from the cleanup spot, and while you're at it, from the first 5 spots in the lineup.
7. Did Hong-Chih Kuo really need to come in for one out, especially considering it was just Mike Fontenot? I think James McDonald could have handled that difficult task.
   

Notes From Wednesday's Game

1. Why was Jonathan Broxton brought in for the 3rd straight day and 4th day out of 5? Even if you believe his toe injury in 100% better (which I don't) that's a ridiculous overuse of a reliever. If this was the playoffs or World Series, sure, I could live with that decision, but as important as these game are, it's not worth overusing Broxton and putting him at a higher risk of injury.
2. I blame the loss on Torre for bringing in Broxton (who pitched well enough to get out of that inning without the run scoring) and Russell Martin for making the poor decision to throw to second; he should have just held onto the ball.
3. 3 errors, and the hit Hudson muffed could have been scored an error as well. Sheesh.
   
4. Perhaps the flu-like symptoms he had been suffering from affected Kershaw, and maybe they didn't. 3 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 5 K, 4 BB, 1 WP, 97 pitches - 60 for strikes.
5. Andre Ethier (25) and Casey Blake (14) both hit solo shots to account for the Dodgers' only runs.
6. Ethier (single, HBP) and Orlando Hudson (single, BB) were the only Dodgers to reach base more than once.
7. Tony Abreu was recalled and struck out pinch-hitting.
8. Hiroki Kuroda was officially placed on the 15-Day DL.
9. Vicente Padilla was signed. Why exactly? Start Scott Elbert.
   

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Matt Kemp Bobblehead Night was fun even with the loss, and I almost snagged a second one. So close.

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Notes From Saturday's Game

Matt Kemp batted 4th.

• How often should Kemp bat 4th or higher: 100% of the time.
• Odds that Joe Torre moves him down, most likely as soon as Sunday: 100%.

1. Clayton Kershaw dominated the Braves (7 IP, 10 K, 1 BB, 2 Hits, 104 pitches - 71 for strikes). Clayton struck out the side in the 5th, had at least 2 Ks in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th innings, and had streaks of 10 and 9 consecutive batters retired. His Game Score was an outstanding 82.
   
2. Russell Martin should have pinch-hit for Brad Ausmus in the 7th. My reasoning here.
3. That called 3rd strike to Ausmus in the 5th that resulted in a strike-em-out-throw-em-out looked like a ball to me, though the home plate ump had a big strike zone all night long.
   
4. Tony Abreu got his first start since 2007, giving Casey Blake a rest.
5. Ronald Belisario returned. Scott Elbert goes back to AAA.
   
6. I've never seen Vin Scully wink before tonight.
7. Kawashima? Come on Vin, say it with me. KAWAKAMI.
   
8. One more thing concerning our fantastic announcer: Since when is Garret Anderson an "outstanding player"? G.A.'s career looks like this (he surprisingly has 824 career XBH):

PA: 8818
OBP: .327
SLG: .467
OPS: .794
OPS+: 105
BB: 414
Most BB in a season: 38 in 141 Games (2006-Age 34)

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I've been listening to this song a lot recently.

Notes From Friday's Game

1. Chad Billingsley was solid through 6 IP (4 Hits, 3 BB, 3K, 2 Runs [1 ER], 79 pitches - 46 for strikes), but had to leave the game with a hamstring injury - the hamstring that was not the hamstring he injured in his last start.
2. Incidentally, that last start was also against Atlanta and featured the same two starters - Billingsley and Jair Jurrjens.
3. George Sherrill had his longest outing of the season, 1.2 IP, scattering 3 hits. George, meet Joe Torre.
4. James McDonald was dynamite over 2 innings, striking out 3 without allowing a baserunner. I'd like to see him given another opportunity to start, as 4 career starts is too small a sample size to pigeonhole him as a reliever. He's still only 24 and throws multiple plus pitches, and also has the minor league track record that leads me to believe he'll be no worse than a very good # 3.
5. Torre should have brought in a reliever other than Hong-Chih Kuo (who pitched Thursday and has that long injury history) after Chad left.
   
6. Andre Ethier drew 4 walks (1 intentional).
   
7. Tony Abreu saw his first major league action since 2007. He grounded out with the bases loaded in the 11th. Abreu won't be 25 until November.
8. I wouldn't be shocked if Ramon Troncoso's struggles were due to an overworked arm, but I can't say that's what ailed him Friday with any certainty. It just as likely could have been an off game.
9. Russell Martin and Casey Blake each had three hits, Blake blasting his 13th homer of the season after home plate ump Eric Cooper forgot that calling a strike and then changing it to a ball doesn't go over well with the team you screwed over.

The Kershawminator goes for the Dodgers on Saturday, looking to bounce back from a rough start last Monday.