SoSGSACBEWPCL: The Reckoning

It's almost time!


I'm opening today's contest up to SoSG Nomo and MLASC, as they've stuck with the contest all the way through (and Jason dragged the other finalists to the finals in spite of themselves.  If you, or any of the qualified players can unseat Jason as King of the Pool, take your shot.

Staunch Reminder Re: Dodger Blogger Softball Tournament

From LFP:

There are over forty players that have yet to pay. If I do not receive payment by midnight Saturday night. I will remove you from the roster for the team you signed up for, and you will no longer be guaranteed a spot on that team. The final deposit is way past due and I need to confirm the amount of teams so they can make the game schedule. There have been several reminder emails sent out with the link to make your payment and I asked for you to respond to the emails if you still intended on playing or wanted to be dropped. For those that have not paid or replied back. Please do so today or tomorrow by midnight. If you do not have a credit or debit card. you can send an E check through We Pay. If you want to Pay the day of the event. Let me know and I can make arrangements for you to do so, but you must let me know now.

Riot Goin On In San Francisco

According to Jon Heyman, Ryan Theriot has inked a one-year deal with the San Francisco Hated Ones. How bad is he going to destroy us this season?

In other ex-Dodger news, my how the tiny have fallen. Dylan Hernandez reporting that the Phillies have signed Juan Pierre to a minor league contract and invited him to their Spring camp.

Juan Pierre's cannon arm demonstrated

Image: www.thechicagodope.com

This is what passes for Dodger player news these days; reports of ex-players signing insignificant contracts for hated rivals.

Kershaw Receives Spahn Award

Congratulations, Clayton!:

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw accepted the Warren Spahn Award on Thursday night as the best left-handed pitcher in baseball.

"It's the biggest trophy I've ever gotten," Kershaw said, laughing. "I don't know if I'll be able to carry it on the plane."

Kershaw, the National League Cy Young winner, led the NL with a 21-5 record, 248 strikeouts and a 2.28 ERA. He also was selected to his first All-Star game and won his first Gold Glove.

"It's been a progression. I think a lot of it has to do with being more comfortable and getting more experience," Kershaw said. "It's just a lot of things coming together. Once you have some success you gain some confidence and you expect to do that every time out."

The Spahn Award is based on a pitcher's wins, strikeouts and ERA. Spahn won 363 career games in his Hall of Fame career. He died in 2003.

Missed Him By THAT MUCH

Well, whattya know...

Jon Heyman: Dodgers Secretly Bid For Prince (CBSSports.com)

The Dodgers surely gave a spirited effort to secure Fielder, even flying to meet with him at an undisclosed neutral location a few weeks ago, but somehow managed to keep the entire undertaking under wraps, save for a few internet rumblings from fans speculating that they may have been a mystery team in the mix.

...

The Dodgers' offer was said to have called for an average salary of about $26 million for the first four years and something in the low $20-million-range in the next three years. The bid was designed not to discourage Fielder from opting out and possibly moving to the American League where he could DH after the first four years. The total Dodgers deal was believed to have been worth in the low $160 millions.

This makes me feel a little better. I was fairly vocal about having a good feeling that Prince was coming to L.A., despite logic screaming at me for being stupid. That's a solid offer, and the Dodgers were simply outbid. I can live with that.

It's going to sting a bit later, if Loney doesn't perform at all (I think he'll be better than the past two years, if not by much.). For now though, I'm just happy I wasn't crazy for thinking the Dodgers were in on the Prince sweepstakes.

Finish The Limerick

We're way overdue for a nice round of Finish the Limerick. You know what to do!

This offseason, quite frankly, is sad,
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ps- This doesn't seem right without EK. Here's hoping he weighs in with a saucy little number.

Previous Finish the Limericks

SoSGSACBEWPCL Semi-Finals Thread

Here it is, boys and girls. Prepare yourself for the 3 o'clock showdown.

Remember, only comments date stamped between 3:00 and 3:01 count towards your totals. The more comments you can cram into that time, the more chances your team has to advance. Content of the comments does not matter, just keep them flowing.

Good luck!

Ah, The Memories...

There should be a word to describe the feeling of reading about off-season transactions involving players that were once associated with the Dodgers, but I had previously either purposefully or accidentally wiped from my baseball memory.

That is all.

Dodgers' King Trumps Prince

Looks like Prince Fielder is going to the Tigers, not the Dodgers:

The Detroit Tigers and slugger Prince Fielder have agreed to a nine-year, $214 million deal, a source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

CBSSports.com and Yahoo! each had earlier reported the deal between the Tigers and the free-agent first baseman.

Even though he never expected to re-sign Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin called his departure "somewhat of a sad day," in comments to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Melvin said the Brewers never made Fielder an offer once the team found out the terms that agent Scott Boras was seeking.

"Scott said from Day 1 it was going to be $200 million," Melvin told the newspapper. "When you hear those kinds of numbers, we couldn't get involved in that. All I can say is we had the feeling it was going to be very difficult to keep him."

The first base job is all yours, FJL!

UPDATE 5:53p (Sax): Oh, and Timmah got two years, $40.5M.

SoSGSACBEWPCL - The Next Generation

The Teams 

OK, team Guernsey. You've gotten through to the final round thanks to big contributions from Jason, MLASC, and Hideo Nomo. Now, the big three commenters from Round 1 will have to face off against each other.

St. Peter Port Cllichards	Vale Hann'taons	Forest Bourdons
Hideo Nomo	MLASC	Jason
Karina	Orel	Loney Fan
Steve K	Fred's Brim	Rbnlaw

Remember, for round two, you just need to get as many comments as possible for your team between 3:00pm and 3:01pm on game days. The team with the most sequential comments advances to the head-to-head-to-head final round.

Fixtures
 
Wednesday 1/25, 3pm: 3x3x3 Round
Friday 1/27, 3pm: 1x1x1 Round

Stay Classy, San Francisco

On the other hand, you can't spell SUFFERING without SF

Look, I know that losing a conference championship game, at home, to the upstart New York Giants, when you were favored to win, is not an easy pill to swallow. That said, are death threats really the right vehicle for your frustrations?

Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams questioned the "culture of sports" after his son Kyle received death threats on social media outlets following Sunday's NFC Championship Game.

Williams' son is the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and kick returner who made two glaring miscues late in Sunday's game that helped the New York Giants advance to the Super Bowl.

Kenny Williams also said that his son was playing with an injured left shoulder Sunday, an injury that happened in the third quarter. Kenny Williams added that his family does not make excuses and did not blame his son's miscues on the injury.

Injury or not, some people were apparently outraged enough to wish harm to Kyle Williams after his two turnovers, the second of which led directly to the Giants' game-winning field goal.

One early threat, via Twitter, wished harm on Kyle Williams' wife and child. He is single with no children.

"I'm used to the years of criticism and threats on my life from time to time, but I have to hear about threats on your son's life while you're watching TV and it certainly makes you question our culture of sports as it stands," Kenny Williams said.

For his part, Kyle Williams said Monday he takes full responsibility for the fumble, calling the moment "painful." And Williams' teammates are on his side, too, along with others from around the NFL who have called in support after San Francisco's season ended.

He insisted it's part of his job to face the criticism in the aftermath of his mistakes and not hide out in a difficult time. Perhaps that will go a little way in calming down the angry fans, some of whom wished harm on Williams and his family after the gaffes.

"It's one of those things you have to take accountability for," Williams said. "Everybody is responsible for what they do on the field. It's something that I was responsible for and I made a mistake and it's time to own up to it and move forward."

Perhaps converting a third down here or there might have contributed to the loss? I'm just saying.

(Oh, and SF had 110 fans ejected from Candlestick Park.. That was twice as many as the prior game against the Saints, and this time, included a man with a two-year-old in tow, threatening an officer.)

photo: Michael Macor / The Comical

Caveat Emptor

The list of the Dodgers bidders, as reported by multiple sources. According to Tony Jackson, there's only two confirmed bids and at least ten other bids waiting in the wings:

The Blackstone Group, the global investment firm that is handling the sale for McCourt, was expected to receive somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 bids, although one source close to the situation said that number could vacillate.

As the deadline passed, there were only two confirmed bids:

• Dennis Gilbert, the Beverly Hills insurance agent and founder of the Beverly Hills Sports Council who also serves as a special assistant to Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, confirmed that his group, which is largely financed by Imperial Capital chairman and chief executive officer Jason Reese, placed a bid.

• Joshua Macciello, CEO of ArmItal Sports Inc., issued a news release through his company stating that he also had made what Macciello characterized in that release as "a more than fair and considerable offer to both Frank and Major League Baseball."

Also, a group headed by Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson and primarily funded by Guggenheim Partners chief executive officer Mark Walter placed a bid, according to a source close to that group who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

In total, there were more than 10 opening bids, the Los Angeles Times reports, citing an anonymous source. Among those who got their bid in before Monday's deadline were: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban; hedge fund giant Steve Cohen; former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley; developer Rick Caruso and Joe Torre; investor Stanley Gold and family of the late Roy Disney; and Dennis Gilbert, Jason Reese and Randy Wooster, according to the Times.

Former Dodgers general manager Fred Claire -- who has been linked to a group that includes Bay Area sports consultant Andy Dolich, a former high-level executive with the Oakland Athletics, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and San Francisco 49ers -- declined to say whether his group had submitted a bid, citing confidentiality agreements all prospective bidders signed when they received bid books.

So, just to keep track of the consortiums reported by different sources--which at this stage count 10:

• Gilbert / Reese / Wooster (confirmed)
• Macciello (confirmed)
• Cuban
• Cohen
• O'Malley
• Caruso / Torre
• Gold / Disney
• Magic Johnson / Stan Kasten / Mark Walter (reported by John Heyman)
• Stan Kroenke (reported by Bill Shaikin)
• Leo Hindery / Marc Utay (reported by the WSJ)

Unconfirmed, but mentioned in recent months (from the WSJ:

• Claire / Dolich / Ben Hwang
• Garvey / Hershiser / Herrick
• Ron Burkle

Groups can of course still combine forces a la the Wonder Twins.

James Loney Makes Top Five List...Of Most Frustrating Players

Geez, this was really not where I wanted to find FJL. However I have to say that at least from the Dodgers' perspective, the enigma that is Loney is indeed a point of frustration:

As a Mariners fan in the 1980s, one player absolutely wrecked me above all others: Jim Presley. He was a third baseman with good power, a quick bat and a strong arm. In 1985, his first full season, he hit .275/.324/.484 with 28 home runs and 33 doubles. He looked like he'd be a star.

But while he made the All-Star team in 1986, his strikeouts increased from 100 to 172. The problem was obvious: The dude couldn't lay off the slider low and away. Time after time, he would flail helplessly at the pitch. It got comical; pitchers learned they didn't even have to throw the pitch close to the plate and Presley would chase. With two strikes, you knew it was coming; Presley knew it was coming. Swing and a miss. By 1991, not yet 30 years old, he was out of the majors.

All fans have their most frustrating players. Here are five current major leaguers who pop into my mind. [...]

James Loney, Dodgers: In 2007, Loney hit .331 with 15 home runs in 344 at-bats as a 23-year-old rookie. He looked like a future stud, a first baseman who would hit for a good average and 25 to 30 home runs per season. But he's never matched the power potential, settling in with numbing consistency, hitting between 10 and 13 home runs each season. Since he's not a .300 hitter nor does he draw many walks, Loney's numbers remain subpar for a first baseman. The improvement just hasn't happened, yet Dodgers management continues to stick with him. He's now making $6.375 million; that's a lot to pay for a first baseman who's hit .281/.341/.411 over the past four seasons.

Now, I'm frustrated by Juan Uribe and Andre Ethier a little bit too, but I have to say that Loney probably inches out both of them (if it's even possible to inch out Uribe to anything at all).

And though there are no other NL West teams on the list, every team's got these players: Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand come to mind (not to mention that Posey guy who couldn't even play a full season last year!). Do the Dodgers, and their on-field frustrations, necessarily have it worse than anyone else?

Bill Plaschke Needs You To Know That He's Been To A Lot Of NFL Championship Games

Saw an interesting piece in Sunday's LAT in which Bill Plaschke was trying to make the argument that yesterday's conference championship day was a better NFL day than the Super Bowl itself. Okay, not such a bad argument; the only reason why anyone watches the Superbowl anyway is the commercials (and that kickass nacho cheese bean dip that Ingrid makes each year!).

But Plaschke decided to detail his thesis not by using facts, or ratings, or even statistics. No, Plaschke just wanted to talk about himself and all the cool games he's attended (bold emphasis mine):

The two conference championship games played Sunday will be more compelling than the one game played two weeks later, and it won't even be close.

Sunday is the Super Bowl minus the capital letters, Roman numerals and incessant glitz. Sunday is real football, played in real weather, in front of real fans, for real stakes.

I've never seen a Super Bowl winner cry. I've seen New Orleans Saints players weeping when they beat the Minnesota Vikings to qualify for their first Super Bowl.

I've never seen a Super Bowl quarterback quiver. I've seen Peyton Manning nearly faint from emotion as he staggered off the field after finally beating Tom Brady and qualifying for his first Super Bowl. [...]

I was in a press box in New Orleans a couple of years ago when grown men started screaming at the sight of the Vikings' Brett Favre throwing that horrible interception at the end of regulation. I was there in Indianapolis a couple of years earlier when all of Middle America seem to rock at the sight of the Colts overcoming an 18-point deficit with Peyton Manning using a last-minute drive to pound the final nail into the omnipotence of Brady. The first truly breathtaking moment of my sportswriting career occurred while I stood on the Cleveland sidelines and watched John Elway's drive to give the Denver Broncos the 1986 AFC championship.

It's all about you, Bill!

Final (Opening) Bids Due Today!

The Dodgers' sale process formally begins today! And the key point from the LAT's Bill Shaikin is, don't cry for Frank McCourt:

How much money does McCourt need to break even?

That could be a billion-dollar question. In a court filing last week, the Dodgers listed $573 million in debt. McCourt has the option to sell or keep the Dodger Stadium parking lots, but the McCourt entity that owns them carries debt of about $70 million. McCourt's divorce settlement obligates him to pay his ex-wife $131 million and pay off an $18-million mortgage. He owes $30 million to Fox, to repay a personal loan.

In addition, his attorneys have estimated the tax liability from the sale of the team at "between $80 million and $200 million." By using the higher number and including the parking lot debt, his total obligations would reach $1.02 billion.

So how might McCourt make out financially?

Just fine, thank you. He and his advisors think the Dodgers could sell for at least $1.5 billion.

Thank god, now I can sleep easy at night.

NFL Playoffs Day 5: Tebow-Free Goodness (Ravens/Patriots, 12n; Giants/Niners, 3:30p)

Everybody outside of Wisconsin is delighted by the storylines of today's matchups, featuring quarterbacks with chips on their shoulders and fanbases from a couple of decent-sized cities.

Bah, Harbaugh. I just want San Francisco to not win it all.

Olney: Braun Should Give Back MVP Award

Ran Braun speaks to the Baseball Writers' Association tonight, accepting his NL MVP Award. and ESPN's Buster Olney thinks Braun should proclaim his innocence, but give it back (link insider only):

From the moment the news of Ryan Braun's positive test for performance-enhancing drugs broke in December, he has maintained his innocence, texting to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the PED charge was "B.S.," and he and his representatives followed through with an appeal that was heard on Thursday in New York. He's the only person who can know, with certainty, how this happened, and he insists he did nothing wrong.

But by now Braun understands that no matter how his appeal is decided, the perception of him has been shaped. Under the terms of baseball's drug prevention program, the positive test from October means, quite literally, that he is guilty until proven innocent, and this is true for many in the court of public opinion, as well.

This is a reality that Roger Clemens didn't seem to comprehend the instant his name was published in the Mitchell Report: He had already lost what he was trying to protect.

The best chance for Braun to extricate something good from his situation would be to stand up on the dais Saturday, hold the NL MVP trophy in his hands -- and offer to give it back to the Baseball Writers' Association of America at its annual New York dinner, even while maintaining his innocence. This gesture would elevate Braun and separate him from the legions of athletes who have issued denials in the face of accusations of performance-enhancing drug use.

Braun could say something along these lines when he speaks Saturday night :

I want to thank the Baseball Writers' Association for this award. But you all know, I failed a drug test in October, right in the middle of the playoffs.

I don't believe I did anything wrong. I didn't take any drugs meant to enhance my performance. My case is under appeal, which was heard here in New York this week, and I remain hopeful that the decision will go my way and that I can be ready to help the Brewers at the start of the 2012 season.

But I also understand the importance and the stature of the Most Valuable Player Award, which has been won by the likes of Ted Williams and Hank Aaron and Sandy Koufax and Cal Ripken. I do not want my situation to cast any negative light on the award, and if the Baseball Writers believe it's in the best interest of baseball that somebody else would be the NL MVP for 2011, I am here to offer back this award, for the sake of the sport we all love. Thank you. It would be the right thing to do. For baseball and for Braun, who would be lauded for the gracious offer.

Hmm. I wonder where Matt Kemp is eating dinner tonight?

The Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw, and Juan Uribe

There is no mistaking the precocious maturity of Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Whether in his calm focus on the mound or in the clubhouse, he is beyond his 23 years. He appears remarkably centered and at peace with himself, recognizing where he is personally and professionally.

Kershaw is a professional athlete, though unlike Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe, he is hardly labeled as "an disastrous signing". Kershaw and Uribe are two Los Angeles baseball players who outwardly approach their workout preparation and physical fitness in markedly different ways.

If there is a robust, does-my-girth-slow-my-bat-speed aspect to Uribe and his 2011 OPS+ of 56 (the starting lineup's worst), Kershaw has a more understated ERA+ of 163 along with a league-leading 248 Ks.

I've never heard him bring up his Cy Young Award-winning campaign and role as team role model while philantrhopically benefitting underserved Zambian children whom have lost their parents to AIDS. Yet, I have a clear understanding of his overall awesomeness.

"I think everybody has different approaches to it," Kershaw said. "For me, everything I do has a purpose to it beyond what’s in this lifetime. At the same time, on the field I have a job to do and that’s what I’m focused on.

"I guess you could say I’m a little more skinny than Juan is. Not to say either one is wrong, that’s just kind of my body type a little bit."

Earlier:

• LAT: The Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Tebow and Jesus Christ
• SoSG: LAT's Steve Dilbeck, Constrained By The Shackles Of His Dodger Beat, Finally Uncorks His Own Bottled Tebowmania
• SoSG: The Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw, and Beaker

photos: Uribe: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America; Kershaw: Jeff Gross / Getty Images

The Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw, and Beaker

There is no mistaking the precocious maturity of Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Whether in his calm focus on the mound or in the clubhouse, he is beyond his 23 years. He appears remarkably centered and at peace with himself, recognizing where he is personally and professionally.

Kershaw is a devout Christian, though unlike Beaker the live-hand muppet, he is not made of felt. Kershaw and Beaker are two lanky characters who outwardly approach their strong faith in markedly different ways.

If there is a showy, look-at-my-crazy-hair aspect to Beaker and his scene-stealing antics in Dr. Honeydew's Muppet Labs, Kershaw is more understated in his approach, if no less sincere.

I’ve never heard him bring up God in postgame interviews or seen him point to the sky after a big strikeout. Yet, I still have a clear understanding of his commitment.

"I think everybody has different approaches to it," Kershaw said. "For me, everything I do has a purpose to it beyond what’s in this lifetime. At the same time, on the field I have a job to do and that’s what I’m focused on.

"I guess you could say I’m a little more understated than Beaker is. Not to say either one is wrong, that’s just kind of my personality a little bit."

Indeed, even if it’s not exactly his way, Kershaw admires Beaker for his resilience while being victimized by experimental hijinks, using his signature "meep!" utterings to bring attention to his faith.

"I have a lot of respect for Beaker," Kershaw said. "I don’t know him personally, but I think what he’s doing is special. I think what he’s trying to do should be recognized, in whatever way that you try to do it. He’s assisting Dr. Honeydew but I think there’s more to it than that.

"He gets a lot of recognition, publicity for it good and bad. People have opinions about his antics and dress because it’s so over the top. I think it does help to have other people in the muppet world that are doing that, and just try to follow their lead."

Earlier: LAT: The Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Tebow and Jesus Christ; SoSG: LAT's Steve Dilbeck, Constrained By The Shackles Of His Dodger Beat, Finally Uncorks His Own Bottled Tebowmania

photos: Beaker: Raving Toy Maniac; Kershaw: Jeff Gross / Getty Images

Ramona Shelburne Nails The Dodgers' Debutante Parade

Four days left before preliminary bids are due, and ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne does a fine job of stepping back and assessing why the Dodgers, despite Frank McCourt's encumbrances and the organization's weakened state, is still a hot ticket that promises to be a contested battle of billionaires:

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Rob Reiner is a serious movie producer and a funny guy. So when he stepped to the podium to present an award at the ninth-annual Pro Baseball Scouts Foundation dinner late last week, everything that came out of his mouth had several layers of meaning.

The ballroom at this swanky Beverly Hills hotel was packed with baseball luminaries. No fewer than a half a dozen Hall of Famers were in attendance for what's become something of a winter meeting in Los Angeles since former sports agent Dennis Gilbert's began hosting the fundraiser nine years ago.

Reiner took one look at the crowd and laughed.

"Show of hands," Reiner said, clearly going a bit off script. "Who in this room isn't trying to buy the Dodgers?"

The audience erupted in nervous laughter, relieved someone had let the air out of the balloon hovering above the room. I counted no fewer than four prospective ownership groups in attendance -- Peter O'Malley, Gilbert, Joe Torre, and members of the group headed by Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten -- and none of them could say a word because they've signed non-disclosure agreements with the Blackstone group, the New York-based investment firm handling the sale of the team.

About the only man in the room who could provide a bit of an answer to Reiner's question was baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who was in attendance to shake Gilbert's hand and present an award to longtime executive Al Rosen.

"It's a manifestation of how popular the sport is," Selig said, when asked why the Los Angeles Dodgers have attracted so many potential bidders since Frank McCourt announced he would sell the team.

"We have five or six terrific groups, or maybe even more and I'm very confident that out of that will come an excellent owner. You look at the quality of the people in each group and they're very very good."

Shoot, I myself would be trying to buy the Dodgers, if this blog was only a tad more profitable (DelinO's paycheck is out of control, I tell you). But besides the fact that I'm jealous about Shelburne's dining options, I also liked the way she ended the piece:

The problem is that the Dodgers and their fans have suffered long enough. Their next owner needs to be simple and uncomplicated. Unfunny, maybe. But of noble intention.

As Kemp put it: "It doesn't really matter to me who owns the team as long as they have the same interests as me, and that's winning."

Leave it to the true MVP to break it down to what really matters. Let the best billionaire win.