Winter Meetings News

Jon Weisman passes along multiple Dodger moves:

• Jamie Hoffmann was taken with the first selection in the Rule 5 Draft by the Yankees.
• The Dodgers are going to offer arbitration to Jason Repko. Color me fucking stunned. He must have pictures of someone in the organization.
• The Dodgers acquired Carlos Monasterios from the Mets, who selected him in the Rule 5 Draft. The price: CASH. Wasn't a lack of cash the problem? The reason why we couldn't offer arbitration to Wolf and Hudson? Oh wait, it was a "baseball decision". Fuck.
• The Dodgers acquired Armando Zerpa from the Rays, who selected him in the aforementioned Rule 5 Draft.
  

Ned Colletti Doesn't Regret What Ned Colletti Should Regret

Randy Wolf signed a 3-year-deal with Milwaukee today. It's being reported there's a team option for a 4th year.

Colletti doesn't regret not offering Wolf arbitration.

I regret it, because we would have received picks.

Damn you Ned and Frank, damn you.

On a side note, Wolf looks so stoic in the picture to the right. That smirk is probably Randy laughing silently at how stupid Dodgers management is.

Dodgers Decide Not To Offer Arbitration....To Anyone

What an idiotic decision, punting picks galore for what comes down to paying the money for the picks, or paying the money if any of the players offered arbitration accepted and returned to the Dodgers.

Picks for Randy Wolf? Gone.

Picks for Orlando Hudson? Gone.

Pick for Ronnie Belliard? Gone.


I fear more stupid decisions are ahead.

Phillies 5, Dodgers 4: NLCS Game 4 Recap: Notes From Monday's Game

1. Randy Wolf went 5.1 innings (3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 K, 2 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 88 pitches - 51 for strikes).
2. Bullpen: 3.1 IP, 2 Runs, 1 Hit, 2 K, 2 BB, 1 WP, 2 HBP.
3. Jonathan Broxton had his first poor outing of the postseason (1 IP, 2 ER, 1 Hit, 1 BB, 1 HBP), and it came at the worst time. A badly located fastball sealed the deal tonight. Shit happens. And sometimes it's bad shit. Shit you don't want to happen. That's life.
   
4. A bad pitch, two when you include the one in game 4 of the NLCS last year, does not mean "Broxton sucks" or "he should be traded" or "George Sherrill is better". Those are knee-jerk, and factually incorrect, reactions.
   
5. Matt Kemp hit his 2nd postseason HR, and first since Game 1 of the NLDS.
6. Kemp (HR, BB), Russell Martin (Single, BB), James Loney (2 Singles), and Ronnie Belliard (Single, BB) each reached base twice.
7. The offense struck out 7 times while drawing 4 walks.
   
8. The Dodgers stole 3 bases.

Game Log.

Kershaw To Start NLCS Game 1, NLCS Roster Revealed

The right choice. He's our best pitcher.

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NLCS Roster and Roster Moves:

• Chad Billingsley will pitch out of the bullpen. I disagree. I hope Ned (I assume he gets extended in the offseason) doesn't do anything rash and trade him. I'm holding my breath and hoping to exhale.
• Vicente Padilla starts Game 2.
  
• Hiroki Kuroda returns from a neck injury. He'll start Game 3.
• Randy Wolf goes in Game 4.
  
• Jon Garland is off of the NLCS roster.
  

Part Deux

Dodgers 5, Cardinals 3: NLDS Game 1 Recap: Notes From Wednesday's Game

The Bison attacks its prey with unmitigated force.

1. Randy Wolf was wild and in a baserunner-giving mood (3.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 K, 5 BB [2 IBB to A-Pu], 1 HBP, 82 pitches- 46 for strikes). 13 12 baserunners in 3.2 IP. Damn.
2. Bullpen: 5.1 IP, 1 Run, 5 Hits, 5 K, 0 BB, 1 HBP.
3. Matt Kemp had a huge 2-run HR in the 1st inning, his first career postseason HR. A fielding miscue in the 9th and a couple poor at-bats as well, but those can be corrected.
   
4. Jonathan Broxton went 1.1 innings and struck out 2.
5. Andre Ethier (Double, Single, BB), Rafael Furcal (Triple, 2 Singles), James Loney (2 Singles, BB), Casey Blake (2 Singles, BB), and Ronnie Belliard (Single, 2 BB) each reached base 3 times, while Manny (Double, BB) and Russell Martin (2 BB) each reached base twice.
   
6. The offense drew 8 walks while striking out just 6 times (only 3 of those Ks coming against Chris Carpenter).
7. Eric Gagne was in attendance.
   

Game Log.

Notes From Friday's Game

1. Magic number remains at 1.
2. Randy Wolf was wild and in a "giving up base runners" mood (5 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 K, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 91 pitches - 56 for strikes).
3. Bullpen: 4 IP, 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 7 K, 2 BB, 1 HR Allowed.
4. Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless 9th inning and struck out the side. His 3 Ks extends his career best to 114. He's pitched 75 innings this season, the second most in his young career.
   
5. Russell Martin his his 7th HR of the season.
6. Andre Ethier (Double, Single, BB) and Rafael Furcal (2 Singles, BB) each reached base 3 times, while Martin (HR, BB) reached base twice.
7. Furcal stole his 12th base of the season.
8. Manny went 0-4 with 4 Ks. That's some type of sombrero. Maybe myrrh.
9. Casey Blake was also 0-4 with 4 Ks. A bearded sombrero?
10. The offense drew 5 walks while striking out 13 times.
    

Hiroki Kuroda To Miss NLDS

Per Phil Gurnee and True Blue L.A.

This sets the postseason rotation as some combination of Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, and Randy Wolf.

Unless Joe Torre decides to pull a fast one.

This Should Be An Interesting Weekend

The Dodgers' magic number remains at 1 after Colorado demolished the Brewers today. After today's off-day, the Dodgers and Rockies finish the season with a 3-game tilt in Los Angeles.

The match-ups for the weekend series are currently scheduled to be:

Friday: Randy Wolf vs Ubaldo Jimenez
Saturday: Clayton Kershaw vs Jorge De La Rosa
Sunday: Chad Billingsley vs Jason Marquis

A sweep would clearly be disappointing, and you don't want to end the season on such a poor note, but going into the playoffs playing well doesn't always produce the desired postseason success.

All that matters is making the playoffs, something the Dodgers have already accomplished.

Notes From Saturday's Game

1. The Dodgers clinched a playoff spot and reduced their magic number to win the NL West to 2 1 with their win and the Rockies loss.
2. Randy Wolf was solid again (6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 5 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 83 pitches - 54 for strikes).
3. Bullpen: 2.2 IP, 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 3 K, 2 BB, 2 WP. 5 relievers. See bullet point number 8.
   
4. Ronnie Belliard hit his 10th HR of the season (5th with LA).
5. Jim Thome had a big 2-run pinch-hit single in the 8th inning. Good to see Jim with some success off of the bench.
   
6. Manny (Double, Single, 3 BB) reached base 5 times, Belliard (HR, 2 Singles) reached base 3 times, and James Loney (Single, BB), Orlando Hudson (2 BB [1 IBB]), and Mark Loretta (Double, Single) each reached base twice.
7. The offense was more patient tonight, drawing 8 walks [1 IBB] while striking out just 3 times.
8. I've decided that Joe Torre just doesn't know any better when it comes to bullpen management.
   

Notes From Sunday's Game

1. Randy Wolf was decent over 6 IP (2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 K, 2 BB, 2 HR Allowed, 85 pitches - 52 for strikes). He also walked in the 3rd and scored on Ethier's HR.
   
2. Bullpen: 3 IP, 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 4 K, 0 BB.
3. Andre Ethier hit his 31st HR of the season, and in doing so surpassed 100 RBIs for the first time in his career. He's the first Dodger to reach that mark this season.
4. James Loney (Single, 2 IBB) reached base 3 times, while Manny (BB, IBB), Ethier (HR, BB), and Rafael Furcal (Triple, BB) each reached base twice.
5. Furcal stole his 9th base of the season, his second straight game with a steal and third steal in his last 5 games. He had 6 steals in his first 135 games this season.
   
6. Matt Kemp extended his hit streak to 12 games.
7. The Dodgers moved 30 games over .500 for the first time since October 2, 1985.
8. The offense struck out 8 times but drew 7 walks.

The Force Is Strong With This One, Career Year Must It Be

Randy Wolf's interview with starwars.com

Notes From Tuesday's Game

1. Randy Wolf was solid (7 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 95 pitches - 62 for strikes), especially considering he was coming off of an injury to his left elbow.
2. Bullpen: 6 IP, 1 Run [o ER], 3 Hits, 8 K, 2 BB [both IBB].
3. Andre Ethier hit his 30th HR and 40th double of the season. He now has 73 XBH (30 HR, 40 Doubles, 3 Triples). The franchise record for doubles in a season is 52, set in 1929 by Johnny Frederick. The franchise record for XBHs in a season is 94, set in 1930 by Babe Herman.
4. Ethier is the first Dodgers' lefty to hit 30 HR in a season since Shawn Green in 2002 , and his HR gives him a major-league high 6 walk-off hits this season, both per Vin on the broadcast.
   
5. Matt Kemp (Double, Single), Ethier (HR, Double), Casey Blake (Triple, BB), and Rafael Furcal (Single, BB) each reached base twice.
   
6. Jonathan Broxton struck out the side in one inning of work. He now has 106 Ks on the season in 69.2 IP (13.79 K/9 IP), and has surpassed his innings total from 2008.
   
7. James McDonald struck out 3 in 3 innings of relief.
   

Happenings In Blue

Randy Wolf is a go for Tuesday.

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Guillermo Mota was activated from the 15-day DL.

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Dodgers 19-year-old minor league pitcher Jose Dominguez was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for Stanozolol, a PED. Dominguez is part of the Dodgers' Dominican Summer League team. His suspension will start next season.

Wolf To Miss Next Start

With left elbow stiffness.

I guess the days of seeing Charlie Haeger start pitch are over, but I'd like to see him get a shot this month if we can extend the lead past the current 2.5 games. He could really help save the bullpen some innings and give Kershaw, Billingsley, and Wolf some much needed rest.

Notes From Saturday's Game

1. Randy Wolf was very good again (7 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 5 K, O BB, 104 pitches - 70 for strikes). He also saw a lot of pitches in his at-bats against Padres' starter Mat Latos. Good game all around for Wolf.
2. Bullpen: 2 IP, 2 Runs [1 ER], 6 Hits, 4 K, 0 BB.
3. Andre Ethier hit his team-leading 28th HR of the season.
4. James Loney (2 Singles, 2 BB) reached base 4 times, Rafael Furcal (Double, Single, BB) reached base 3 times, and Ethier (HR, Double), Russell Martin (Single, BB), and Orlando Hudson (Single, IBB) each reached base twice.
5. Matt Kemp stole his 30th base of the season.
6. Wolf is the first pitcher in baseball to reach 30 starts this season.
7. Casey Blake sat out with tightness in his left hamstring. He's day-to-day.
   

Plaschke, Shut Your Piehole!

And....Here....We....Go:

"Ned Colletti has done nearly everything in his power to fill Dodgers' postseason needs, with one glaring exception: They still lack an ace pitcher."

Where have I heard this before? We have 2 aces in fact, Messrs Kershaw and Billingsley. Whether they are pitching like an "Ace" is an entirely different question. I have no problem with these two fine young pitchers leading the charge.

The Dodgers' general manager was smiling through the stifling heat Tuesday, wearing a long-sleeve dress shirt in his fancy steam bath.

"This is great," he said. "I'm great."

Oh yeah? Well, it's about to get hotter.

That's right, those fires are really wreaking havoc on the air quality near Dodger Stadium. Makes everyone feel a bit hotter. Don't hold your breath though, that would be bad. OK, maybe you can Bill.

Colletti finished his season's work late Monday night, acquiring enough players to satisfy most of the team's postseason needs.

All but the one that burns brightest.

Sirius?

The lack of an ace starting pitcher is still hanging out there, blinding and brutal.

Colletti has done a masterful job of collecting every other imaginable championship piece, but none of it will work without an ace starter.

Tell that to the 2005 White Sox. Or, according to the logic Bill Plaschke uses to determine an ace (i.e. whoever the fuck he deems worthy and "mentally tough enough"), the 2008 Phillies before they won. I'll revisit this point shortly.

Jim Thome and Ronnie Belliard will be nice late-inning threats -- if the Dodgers can hold the lead that long.

*Ranks in MLB for 2009*

Team FIP: 1st

Starters FIP: 4th

Bullpen FIP: 6th

The Dodgers appear quite capable of keeping other teams' offenses in check, so it's really a matter of the Dodgers' offense doing enough, which has been the problem this year. And how exactly does an "ace" help that situation, especially when it could have cost us someone like Matt Kemp? Not that Plaschke would have had a problem with Matt being traded away.

The Dodgers can be confident in nearly every player at every position, except the most important player in the most tenuous spot.

I don't know about you., but James Loney and Rafael Furcal have made me worry more than the pitching. Just saying.

Who will take the ball in their first game in the first full week of October?

Chad Billingsley. Or Clayton Kershaw. Or Randy Wolf. Someone who's either really really good or has been really really good this year.

Who will set the tone the way Cole Hamels set the tone for last year's Philadelphia Phillies?

The same Cole Hamels you would have criticized for being young and inexperienced? The same Cole Hamels you would almost certainly have advocated trading, like you did so many of the young Dodgers, for that crafty veteran? Funny how most of the guys Plaschke wanted the Dodgers to get have no postseason experience themselves. But don't let the facts get in the way William.

The personality of a postseason series is entirely established by the team's No. 1 starting pitcher. Most of the other top NL contenders each have two; the Dodgers don't have one.

We've been over this already Bill, and in fact, your math sucks, because we do have 2. Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley. Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw. Remember 'em Bill, they'll be around for a long time.

The Phillies have Hamels and Cliff Lee. The St. Louis Cardinals have Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. The San Francisco Giants have Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.

Going by Plaschke's longing desire for guys to have postseason experience, let's look at that above list. Three have it, three don't. The last two and Lee don't, but guess two guys who do have it and wear Blue: that's right, Clayton and Chad. Yet we should have traded for Lee while giving up someone like Bills (if we strictly go by Plaschke's postseason experience decree, which is not even close to the first reason why I wouldn't trade Chad for Cliff)? Great logic Plaschke.

If the playoffs began this week, their top starter would be Randy Wolf, who has 274 career appearances but zero in the postseason.

Pitchers Bill Plaschke likes better than who the Dodgers have: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee. Guess what they all have in common........NO POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE! Like Randy Wolf.

Their second starter would be Chad Billingsley, who has disappointed the organization with his inability to either act or pitch like an ace. Not to mention, his career postseason earned-run average is 7.24.

3 starts, 5 total appearances. Way to not understand small sample sizes Bill. Though that is 3 more starts and 5 more total appearances than the aforementioned Halladay, Lee, Cain, and Lincecum have combined. And wouldn't acting like an ace simple be pitching like one? Chad Billingsley has a career ERA of 3.47 (a stat Bill will know), a career ERA+ of 125 (with seasons of 135 and 138), and xFIPs of 4.16, 3.74, and 4.04 in the last 3 years. And he's 25. Coming off of hamstring problems and an off-season where he broke a leg. So yeah, he's fine.

The other night in Cincinnati, Billingsley shook his head and said what the Dodgers hate to hear.

"Lately, I haven't been able to find it, and I don't know what it is," he said.

I'd rather him admit when he sucks then act like he's pitching well. So I guess that's something the Dodgers would hate to hear more than what he actually said.

Their third starter will be Clayton Kershaw, who will be a postseason ace in coming years, but not now, not at age 21, not with the sort of inconsistency that could end a game early.

Like Derek Lowe, who at the youthful age of 33, did this in 2006? And suddenly Plaschke can tell a postseason ace before he becomes one? But I thought you said experience and success were necessary, Bill? That's why Randy and Chad aren't any good, and Chad's not an ace....stop making my head spin!

This is why the Dodgers should not have taken a chance. This is why Colletti should have offered more to the Cleveland Indians for Lee.

It is a failed trade that could haunt them through October, a failure of the entire Dodgers organization to either offer or cultivate the right prospects.

It could also be that "failed trade" that leads us to the promised land, as it probably would have taken Kemp or Kershaw to facilitate a trade. And that doesn't make us better, right Bill? Right? And again, the same Cliff Lee with no postseason experience?

Or it could be that this belongs on Frank McCourt's desk. Remember that last summer, in an effort to save money, the Dodgers traded some of their best prospects for players -- Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake, Greg Maddux -- instead of just buying them.

Eduardo Perez and Michael Watt for Maddux. Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris in the Manny deal. Carlos Santana and Jon Meloan for Blake. I see 1 elite prospect in Santana, 1 solid prospect in LaRoche, and a bunch of fillers. Bill's right on Santana, but "best prospects" is worse than a stretch. It's factually incorrect.

And guess who could be on the mound [ Cliff Lee] against the Dodgers in October?

Any number of pitchers to tell you the truth Bill.

But postseason pitching is about raw, period. It's not about cold statistics as much as swagger and savvy and stuff.

Really, because giving up the least amount of runs and baserunners seems like it's statistical to me. Plus, Kershaw and Billingsley have some of the best, if not best, stuff in the game.

The top pitchers in championship rotations bring the heat. If that guy doesn't emerge soon, the Dodgers will be feeling it.

Heat? Heat!? It's heat you want!?!? Was that as nonsensical as this article, because that's what I was going for.




Whew, I'm spent.

Notes From Monday's Game

The day wasn't all bad.

1. Randy Wolf was solid again (6 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 7 K, 2 BB, 102 pitches - 67 for strikes).
2. Bullpen: 4 IP, 3 Runs (2 ER), 4 Hits, 5 K, 4 BB (2 IBB).
3. Matt Kemp (22), Manny Ramirez (15), and Ronnie Belliard (6 - 1st with LA) homered to account for the Dodgers' 3 runs.
4. Manny (HR, Single) and Mark Loretta (Mark Loretta?!?! - 2 BB) were the only Dodgers to reach base more than once.
5. 3 regulars had the night off. Loney came in to play first and went 0-2, and Furcal pinch-hit and grounded out.
   

Note To Eric Karros

Juan Pierre IS NOT the Dodgers' MVP this year (or any year for that matter). Players who have been "more valuable" than Pierre this year, in no particular order:

• Matt Kemp
• Clayton Kershaw
• Andre Ethier
• Chad Billingsley
• Jonathan Broxton
• Randy Wolf
  
• Casey Blake
• Matt Kemp's jock
• Clayton Kershaw's curve
• Randy Wolf's bat
• Casey Blake's beard
• Manny Ramirez (when playing)
• Andre Ethier's yoga mat (ladies included)
• Jonathan Broxton's sideburns
• Chad Billingsley's sweaty hat
  

Notes From Wednesday's Game

Finally!

1. Randy Wolf was very good once again (7.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 109 pitches - 75 for strikes). I would have let him finish the 8th though.
   
2. Was there really a need for either Sherrill or Broxton to pitch? I realize both had gone 3 days without pitching, but with Broxton having pitched so much recently and having dealt with the toe injury, and Sherrill feeling pain in his side yesterday, another day of rest would not only have been beneficial, but was clearly available with the situation that presented itself.
3. James Loney was pitiful again homered (!) for the first time since July 10th, his 8th of the season. All have come on the road.
4. Andre Ethier went deep twice, numbers 26 and 27.
5. Ethier (2 HR, Single) and Manny (Single, BB, HBP) reached base 3 times each, while Loney (HR, Single) and Orlando Hudson (Single, BB) each reached base twice.
6. Rafael Furcal was shitty shitastic more of the same, which can kindly be characterized as shitastically shitty. Move him to the 8th spot Joe.
7. The Dodgers grounded into 3 double plays.
8. Vicente Padilla takes the mound tomorrow.