Salute

From "Dodgers host soldiers with BP on Veterans Day" by Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com:

For the 2011 season, the club will make tickets discounted up to 75 percent available to active duty and retired armed forces personnel, including reserve and National Guard components, for all home games. Spouses and dependents will be eligible and up to eight tickets per game will be available per purchase.

The club also will honor a veteran at every home game with tickets, a batting practice experience and pregame recognition on the field.

photo by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers

Dodgers Mulling Over Martin

ESPN, in its position-by-position review of players like to be involved in the hot stove market this season, did a pretty good job summarizing the Dodgers' quandary at catcher (insider only):

With Russell Martin getting expensive via arbitration -- he could make more than $8 million in 2011 after earning just over $5 million this past season -- the Dodgers could look to move the 27-year-old after watching his production decline for the third consecutive campaign. The problem is, the Dodgers lack in-house options for the lead gig at catcher and aren't expected to significantly increase their payroll to the point where jumping into the market for Victor Martinez would be plausible.

Martin could interest several clubs, including the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, and the Dodgers might then be found turning to A.J. Pierzynski, Ramon Hernandez or John Buck. A.J. Ellis and Rod Barajas shared the job in L.A. when Martin went down with a season-ending hip injury in August, but Barajas is a free agent and Ellis managed just five extra-base hits in 44 games.

Lucas May, 26, is the club's best bet in the minors, but his defensive development appears to have stagnated which leaves Dodgers GM Ned Colletti with a decision to make on Martin.

Martin isn't listed as one of the three catchers to avoid, but he is listed as one of the catchers to discuss:

3. Russell Martin: A likely non-tender, Martin's body has gone south on him in the last two years, and he's lost bat speed and strength. Some players peak early, and while Martin's probably worth a minor league contract and spring training invite, there's too much reason to think he's done to guarantee him seven figures or two years.

I still can't believe it's come to this, after Martin's meteoric rise--but it's true that he has been a liability both defensively and offensively the last couple of years. Martin has tried a number of different off-season workout regimens but none have paid off. I hate to admit it because Martin is the kind of player I would like to like--but I believe it's time to move on at the catcher's spot.

Finally Got Three Stars on Angry Birds 5-3

My 1,000th try got me 83,510. Wow, that level was a pain.

The Greinke Longshot

From deep down in Jayson Stark's column (don't bother looking to see if the Dodgers are noted as one of the five teams that could have a pitching-paved path to 2011 success, because we ain't there), some thoughts about Zack Greinke coming from Kansas City to the Dodgers:

Zack exchange: Are the Royals serious about trading Zack Greinke? Well, they're serious about listening. But according to clubs that have spoken with them, they're telling bidders up front that (A) they would need to "win" the deal, (B) they would have to get the kind of four-for-one haul the Rangers got for Mark Teixeira to pull the trigger, (C) they need a bunch of "front-line, winning, quality players" in return, and (D) at least one of those players has to be a pitcher capable of turning into the next Zack Greinke in a couple of years. So unless a team like Texas were to lose Cliff Lee and decide it needs to trade for Greinke at all costs, we're betting this doesn't happen -- not this winter, anyway.

More Greinke: Clubs that checked in on Greinke have also come away with the impression he wouldn't approve a deal to ANY major-market East Coast team (Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Mets). But an official of one team says Greinke "would at least think about the L.A. clubs" if the Dodgers or Angels were to wade into this mix.

Yeah, considering we probably wouldn't do (B), (C), or (D), we're probably not in the running for Zackster. Which means we'll go after Cliff Lee, right?

Thursday NFL Game Thread: Ravens @ Falcons (5.20p)

I honestly don't know what to think when Thursday night NFL games start rolling around late in the season. But if any of you care about two 6-2 teams facing off this evening, this GT is for you.

(It's probably not for me, though.)

Wednesday Notes, Veterany Goodness Edition

• Veterans to take BP as Dodgers honor military (Ken Gurnick, Dodgers.com)
• All the pieces are falling into place for Don Mattingly (Dylan Hernandez, LA Times)
• Farewell Joe Morgan (Joe Posnanski, SI.com)
• I can't believe ESPN let Jon Miller go (...by Ken Levine)

Red Sox Would Be Foolish To Let Beltre Go

Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi thinks the Red Sox would be foolish not to chase third baseman (and former Dodger) Adrian Beltre:

But the top priority should be keeping one of their own: Adrian Beltre.

Beltre is a free agent again, after making good on one of the wisest one-year deals (for both player and team) in recent memory. He didn’t join the Red Sox until January but was absolutely their best all-around player in 2010.

On the team with an All-Star disabled list, Beltre was the leader in games played. He batted a team-high .321. He finished with more home runs (28) and RBIs (102) than he had in any season since 2004. He played magnificent defense.

His agent, Scott Boras, has built an empire on contract years like this.

And that is sort of the point: The Red Sox are going to spend big on someone, because, much like the Yankees after 2008, ego will compel them to ensure that they do not miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons. So why not give those millions to a player who (a) can handle playing in Boston and (b) wears out The Wall? [...]

Of course, there are whispers that Beltre is headed to a team on the West Coast, because (a) his wife is from there and (b) he owns a home there. I haven’t heard this much talk about baseball geography since Jason Bay, the Seattle-area resident who was destined to sign with the Mariners, Angels or Giants for precisely the same reasons. Lest we forget, he’s a Met.

When it comes to Adrian Beltre, the Red Sox have the money and the need. Their first move of the offseason should be the obvious one.

Well, the Dodgers have the need, though likely not the money. Even still, I can keep dreaming for Beltre as the answer to our big question mark at third base for 2011. Come on, Dodgers: BRING BACK BELTRE!

photo swiped from a boston.com article earlier this year

Dodgers Announce Interest In Cliff Lee; SoSG Sax Announces Interest In Jessica Alba

From MLB Trade Rumors this morning:

Seven to eight teams have already shown interest in free agent lefty Cliff Lee, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. He says the Yankees and Rangers are still the favorites, but the Phillies, Dodgers, and others have checked in.

As Rosenthal notes, it's questionable as to whether the Phillies or Dodgers could come up with the money for Lee. He's expected to sign for significantly more than $100MM. I imagine the Nationals checked in as well; they do have the money and are known to be interested. While the Red Sox and Angels appear poised to spend their money on position players, we won't count them out until they say so.

About that other point in the headline; we can use this thread to debate that as well. I mean, raising one's hand up here doesn't seem very close to the reality, in either case.

Unsigned Theriot Laments Gulf

Not a gulf in his contract negotations; rather, Dodgers second baseman and free agent Ryan Theriot is trying to raise funds for a charity golf event benefitting the Louisiana oil spill recovery, as well as the fight against autism:

Next month, the Dodgers must decide whether to tender a contract to Ryan Theriot and he knows it's no slam dunk. But this week, Theriot's focus is not on baseball.

Instead, the Dodgers second baseman is holding a celebrity golf tournament Friday in his native Louisiana to raise funds and awareness for the recovery from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill as well as for the fight against autism.

Theriot, an LSU alum, will donate money to the National Wildlife Federation: Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund, the Autism Society of America Baton Rouge and the Fore! Kids Foundation, which exposes children to the game of golf. The tournament will be held at the Carter Plantation in Springfield, La.

But good deeds aside, let's pivot (as second basemen are prone to do) and talk about whether Theriot, who joined the Dodgers on August 31 last season, is worth picking up next year:

Theriot committed only one fielding error while with the Dodgers and hit .309 in August, but tailed off offensively in September, when he hit .141. He didn't have an extra-base hit after Aug. 26, but he led the club in runs scored from the time he arrived.

"Numbers-wise I didn't feel I was where I want to be," said Theriot, who will be 31 next month. "I can get better, and from a team standpoint, it was disappointing watching other teams in October because we were capable of doing just that."

Theriot lost an arbitration hearing last year with the Cubs, receiving the team offer of $2.6 million and not the $3.4 million he was seeking. Arbitration-eligible again this year, Theriot figures to be looking for something close to $4 million, which makes him a threatened non-tender candidate. The top Minor League candidate at the position is Ivan DeJesus Jr., but there is no obvious in-house choice to step in if Theriot is cut loose.

Yikes. Yet another position where we are pretty thin with alternatives.

Mose Gets His Wish

Holy Toledo, this year might not be a total disaster after all. Jon Miller AND Joe Morgan have been fired from ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball:

Jon Miller and Joe Morgan's 21-year run on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" is over.

Morgan's contract is expiring and he will not be renewed. Miller's contract is also expiring though he may remain at ESPN working the "Sunday Night Baseball" series and postseason baseball for ESPN Radio.

"Jon and Joe have contributed greatly to the success of 'Sunday Night Baseball' for the past 21 seasons," ESPN executive vice president Norby Williamson said in a statement Monday. "Over the last two decades, Joe went from Hall of Fame player to one of his sport's top analysts and Jon's Hall of Fame voice and tremendous knowledge of the game have connected with baseball fans everywhere. We owe them our deepest thanks for an outstanding body of work."

Wait, I don't have to be told what EVERY SINGLE PITCH type is? Nor do I have to hear unique pronunciations of Latin American surnames? Nor do I have to listen to factually inaccurate anecdotal wives tales being purported as facts? And all it took was to have the Giants win a World Series that no one watched? Shit, that's all you had to say!

(Hat tip to Mr. LA Sports Czar at 4:16p for the headsup!)

Also: google "Michael Schur" and this is one of the things you get. Cool.

Kershaw vs. Lincecum: What If?

You all remember the great Marvel series, "What If?" (which, before the days of "Elseworlds", was a pretty simple device). Well, Kevin Goldstein over at Baseball Prospectus posted a piece about Tim Lincecum, predicting what the reality might have been if other teams had taken Timmah instead. The short story is, with Clayton Kershaw in the mix, the Dodgers aren't in much worse shape:

It's easy to forget who or what a Tim Lincecum was in the spring of 2006. The righty was more novelty act than elite prospect going into his junior year at the University of Washington, and he didn't garner much serious top-10 pick consideration until the last weeks leading up to the draft. Lincecum inspired trepidation in teams for good reason; while he had just as much (if not more) swing-and-miss stuff during his college years, it came with an even more exaggerated delivery than he employs now, leading to 214 walks in his 341 college innings (and, of course, the 491 strikeouts). In the end, the combination of a one-of-a-kind delivery, extremely slight frame, and command problems scared nine teams off of the player whom scouts at the time nicknamed “Seabiscuit.” "Scared" might not be the best term to use here, since many teams genuinely (and often justifiably) felt at the time that the player they chose was superior. Still, with no baseball going on and the Giants sitting around with a World Series title, it's as good a time as any to play the "what if" game and try to figure out what might have happened had the nine teams with single-digit picks taken Lincecum, and gotten his 21.6 (and counting) career WARP in return. [...]

7. Los Angeles Dodgers

Whom They Took: Clayton Kershaw (Career WARP: 7.3). Under the guidance of Logan White, the Dodgers often identified high-ceiling pitchers with early picks, and they found the best one in the draft with Kershaw.

And if They Took Lincecum: Lincecum in the rotation makes the Dodgers more dangerous in the 2008 and 2009 League Championship Series, both of which they lost in five games, but what about the future? Kershaw was arguably the better pitcher this year, and which pitcher would you rather have over the next five years? I don't think either answer is a slam dunk.

Kershaw vs. Lincecum is an interesting scenario to play out (I for one am a loyal guy so I'd take the non-pot-smoking Minotaur on my squad). It is not, however, as interesting as some other fantasy scenarios...

It is Vma! I'm back with another movie review!

Hi Dodgers Fans, it is Vma! Remember me? I am back! I hope you did not forget me from my short time as a Blue Babes. I first want to say I really enjoyed my time supporting the Dodgers - I loved it so much that I came back to America! I hope that is ok :).

And as you may remember I love movies...and I am also a prespiring movie critic! So I am back with another movie review! Today my review is for 'Salt' with Angelina Jolie! :) So this morning when I woke up I was determined to go see this movie. It is not a new movie, but my friend Inga in Sweden told me it was really good, with a great story and great actionary parts, so I was excited to see it. Also, one of my favorite actors is Morgan Freeman. He is so good in his movies, I love him!!! And even though Inga said he is not in Salt, she saw the movie a long time ago...so now, three months later, who knows? I am hopeful!

The movie is about a Russian Spy, Angelina Jolie, who has established a life in the USA over many years, pretending to be a normal USA citizen (Angelina Jolie is also a great actor!) In the movie, to help her pretend to be normal, she even gets married to a normal guy. And Inga told me that the really interesting coincidence about the movie is that the story was eerily similar to real life events happening at the time. It's true - Inga told me that when the movie was released, she was dating a guy, and she said he is a chemistry and knows science too! Crazy, right? I told her to be careful because maybe that means he too is secretly an actor. LOL!!

So anyways this morning I woke up deciding to go to see the movie. I IM'ed my friend Mitch who works at the motel where I used to stay to see if he wanted to go. He writes back and said he could not go because he had to work :(

But also my conversations with Mitch always include baseball talk, because he knows baseball and I want to continue to learn about the game and my favorite team the Dodgers! So I IM Mitch and ask about how my favorite Dodger Brian Cavazos-Galvez is doing. Mitch sends me this link. I don't exactly understand all the numbers (I'm still learning!) so I ask him to please summarize how Brian is playing. Mitch replies: "He is hitting 0.318 for the single-A team. He is really tearing up the league." That comment confused me but I looked at the link again and see that Brian only has barely half a SLG (0.520). I guess that is why he is tearing up? I hope he has tissues :(. Don't worry Brian, you will turn it around!

Ok, well unfortunately it is getting late and I still need to run some errands and of course I want to try to see Salt today, so I will wrap up my movie review - in summary: go see Salt!! I give it a thumbs up (out of four stars)!! Inga said it was really really good, I can't wait to see it too!

     -xoxo
     Vma

SoSG Fantasy Football Update, Week 8 (And Week 9 Smack Thread)

I am writing this from a hole in the ground. Where there is no light. And I am still drunk. And I don't feel much like posting just yet.

(Actually, I had a really tough week at work too--but hey, if there was a week to hibernate, I figured this was probably it.)

Mr. LA SF is also underneath a table somewhere, so let me give a quick recap of last week's efforts:

Spanky 72, Neeebs' Mom 54
Mr. Customer 129, Meanie Breanie 103
Steve Dittmore 66, Mr. LA SF 53
Dusty Baker 122, Karina 68
Paul 82, Nic J 44

Today gives us an extra hour of smacktalking. Fire up, people!

UPDATE 9:16a: Now with more Mr LA SF content!

Baseball is over, and there's not much left to talk about. So let's talk about football! Because why not!

Prof. Dittmore 66 (6-2) - MLASF 53 (2-6): The Professor takes advantage of my B-team (I had five players on byes) thanks to a late rally by Andre Johnson's 16 points in Monday Night Football. I had 14 points from both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Maurice Jones-Drew go for naught.

Spanky 72 (4-4) - Jason 54 (2-6): The Spankster moves back to .500 thanks to 22 points from rookie LaGarrette Blount and 15 points from the Rams' defense. Chris Johnson hauled 13 points for Jason, but no other player could reach double figures.

Mr. Customer 129 (4-4) - Meaniebreanie 103 (3-5): Mr. C gets his revenge from his juggernaut opening week loss thanks to a staggering seven double-digit showings. BenJarvus Green-Ellis led the way with 24 points, and Antonio Gates followed with 18. MB saw Brandon Lloyd snag 22 points and Terrell Owens add 18 to the mix, but it wasn't enough.

Dusty Baker 122 (7-1) - Karina 68 (5-3):  In a battle of the top seeds, Dusty cam out on top.  Arian Foster took 22 points in for DB, and Peyton Manning added 18. Jamaal Charles gave Karina 23 points, and Adrian Peterson took 20, but no other player had double-digits.

Paul 82 (5-3) - NicJ 54 (2-6):  Nic can't catch a break, suffering his sixth straight loss, while Paul continues his drive for first in the western division. A monster 28 point outburst from Calvin Johnson propelled the new father, while Philip Rivers added 18 points. Tom Brady's 13 points and Percy Harvin's 12 were the crux of Nic's offense.

Week 9 gets Jason vs. MLASF, Spanky vs. Mr C, Paul vs. MB, Nic vs. Dusty, and Karina vs. Ditty. Hopefully, we can answer that immortal question, "If there's no baseball being played, does SoSG make a sound?"

Friday Notes, Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo Edition

• Looking for a reason to like Bill Plaschke? No? Well here's one anyway:

  I have been stuck in a permanent cringe since the rather hideous moment the San Francisco Giants won the World Series.

  Getting Davey Lopes back with the Dodgers would be a steal (Plaschke, LA Times)

• I was on a flight with Sparky Anderson once. Shoulda shook his hand. George and Sparky (JoePo, SI.com)
• Star pitchers with injury problems are becoming available in the NL West. Rockies Decline Jeff Francis' Option, Padres Decline 2011 Option For Chris Young, D'Backs Unlikely To Bring Webb Back In 2011 (MLBTR)

Poll

Which is bigger news?
	Scott Podsednik declines option to return
	The McRib accepts option to return
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Escape SPod

Podsednik Declines Option, Becomes A Free Agent (MLBTR)

UPDATE: Jay Gibbons Returns to Los Angeles (MSTI)

Wednesday Notes, Hangover Edition

• We'll always have 1955. 1955 World Series: Rare, Never-Seen photos (LIFE.com) (thanks to Dusty Baker)
• The Dodgers' cheeriest Tweeter is also their number-one prospect. A great interview by John Weisman. Red-hot in Puerto Rico, Dee Gordon aims to improve on-base and defensive skills (Dodger Thoughts)
• Is FCI the BA of fan spending? Misleading comparisons of Dodgers, Angels (LA Observed) (thanks to GregNoPhoto)
• WWCK do? GM for a Day (Christina Kahrl, Baseball Prospectus)
• Enter Lopes, Hansen? Lopes could land in LA as first-base coach, Dodgers considering Hansen as a hitting coach (Ken Gurnick, Dodgers.com)
• Will Scott Podsednik void? Will the Dodgers avoid? Dodgers Exercise Option On Podsednik; Will He Void? (MLBTR)

Post-World Series Puke Thread

From Dusty Baker:

Request a random bitterness thread, please.

Personally I'm vacillating between indifference and not giving a crap. Purge away!

World Series Game 5 Thread, 4:30p

Tim Lincecum (3-1, 2.79) vs. Cliff Lee (3-1, 2.51).

COMMENTS: It's all over, folks. Nothing to see here. Even if Cliff Lee manages to overcome the — who knew? — Giants' offensive juggernaut, there's no way the Rangers, suddenly weak as kittens, win two at Pac Bell, then SBC, now AT&T Park. The only thing left to contemplate is if the Giants will dominate the NL West for years to come. Lincecum/Cain/Bumgarner (all drafted by Dick Tidrow) are a triumvirate of tossing that seems destined to give us fits. (Not to mention the team can use its World Series $$$ to sign a free-agent slugger — Jayson Werth, anyone?) Add to that our Neverending Divorce Story, and, well, I need a drink.

Dodger Fans Are Miserable, But At Least Rihanna Is Smiling From The Inside

Our club is a mess with no hope in the immediate future, and our hated rival is about to win its first World Series. But hey, Matt Kemp makes Rihanna happy!

Romantically, she is blissfully happy in a relationship with her Los Angeles Dodgers boyfriend Matt Kemp.

Rihanna is genuinely giddy this time around, she reveals in a cover story in the December 2010 issue of Marie Claire UK. Access Hollywood reported that she told the magazine, "I feel like I smile for real this time. The smiles come from inside, and it exudes in everything I do. People feel my energy is different. When I smile they can tell that it's pure bliss and not just a cover up."

At least, even in the darkest of times in Chavez Ravine, I can take solace in Rihanna's happiness.

(cries)