Hiroki Kuroda (5-5, 3.50) vs. Bronson Arroyo (3-5. 5.74).
The Dodgers might have gotten shut out on Wednesday, but now they're kicking off their 10-game road trip facing the mullet man himself, Mr. Arroyo. And I predict that Bronson Caves. (Holy WKRP, Batman!)
Nice feature piece by Dylan Hernandez on Hiroki Kuroda, who wasn't the standout star in high school:
Hiroki Kuroda was none of that … and less.
Kuroda, who will start the Dodgers' series opener in Cincinnati on Friday, spent almost his entire high school career on the bench.
This wasn't one of those cases in which a coach played his son or nephew over a more talented player. "He was the third-best pitcher on the team," said Hidemasa Tanaka, who coached Kuroda at Uenomiya High in Japan's Osaka prefecture. [...]
"I never imagined he would be able to pitch here," Tanaka said.
Kuroda, 36, said his experience in high school is what drove him to become one of the most decorated Japanese pitchers of his era. "I wanted to prove him wrong," he said of Tanaka. [...]
"Pro scouts frequently came to watch our teams play," Tanaka said. "But no one bothered with Kuroda. There was no point." [...]
Kuroda said he hopes his story can inspire late-developing players.
"Right now, I'm sure there are many kids out there who want to quit," he said. "High school was really tough for me, but I think those bad times were beneficial to me. No matter what happens, I know I can deal with it."Clayton Kershaw was the national player of the year as a high school senior in Texas. Andre Ethier was an all-state player in Arizona. Rod Barajas was an all-league catcher in Southern California.
So if you're having one of those days where you're geting beat up at work--just remember Hiro. Things will get better with discipline and hard work. And that's--one to grow on. Or the more you know. Whatever.
According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, confidential MLB memos indicate there are eight other teams who are not at the MLB-set debt service rules:
Nine of the 30 teams are in violation of the MLB debt service rules, according to information presented in a confidential briefing at the owners' meetings last month and confirmed to The Times by three people familiar with the presentation.
In addition to the Dodgers and Mets, the teams out of compliance are the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals, according to the people, none of whom were authorized to disclose the information.
Commissioner Bud Selig declined to comment for this story. His predecessor, Fay Vincent, said he would consider the number of teams in violation of the sport's debt rules to be "troublesome." [...]
With the financial struggles of three teams exposed to public view — the Dodgers in divorce court since 2009, the Rangers in bankruptcy court last year and the Mets in the aftermath of the Bernie Madoff scandal over the last few months — a prominent sports investment banker said his industry is "somewhat concerned" about the league's ability to ensure its teams remain on solid economic footing.
"You've got to be thinking, with two of the premier franchises in trouble and a major-market team that has just come out of bankruptcy, what else is out there?" said the banker, who declined to be identified because of his work with the league and its clubs.
Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president of labor relations, would not confirm the number of teams in violation of the debt rule or identify any of them.
"To take a snapshot of the number of non-compliant clubs at a point in time can be very misleading," Manfred said. "With one or two exceptions, we see how teams are going to be compliant again in the short term, so we're not worried about them.The Dodgers and New York Mets might rank as the biggest financial headaches for Major League Baseball, but they are not the only ones.
Shaikin has also been all over Frank McCourt's precarious financial situation, and the article is dense. However it doesn't push the point of why the Dodgers, even if their ratios are among some of their peers (including contending teams like the Rangers and Phillies, I might add), are in even more dire straits than probably all except the recently-lifelined Mets.
Frank McCourt took a discount on future income streams in order to advance payments to make the May 31 payroll. He has not resolved his outstanding issues with his wife, Jamie McCourt, who arguable owns half of the team (and half of the revenue). And most damning is that Frank's future plans to keep the Dodgers as a going concern hinge squarely upon a massive advancement of funding from Fox in exchange for a gargantuan commitment of future income streams valued at today's rates. And this deal, the only lifeline Frank McCourt can find (remember, he's courted other investors to no avail), has two significant impediments in Bud Selig/MLB and Jamie McCourt.
The Mets, according to Shaikin, were able to get a $200M advance from an convertible equity position. That is very different from the Dodgers' situation, in which there are no equity partners to be found.
Having a garage sale to get some liquidity would be scary enough--no one wants to see Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, or Clayton Kershaw (among others) sold off in desparation. But the lengths to which Frank McCourt is jeopardizing future income streams makes me worried that more desparate moves are close at hand. We know that June's two payroll cycles include the deferred balloon payments to Manny Ramirez. I am guessing that Frank's scrambling will get more and more erratic.
If MLB triggers a change in ownership of the Dodgers, all of these agreements for discounted future income still hold, right? I can assume that whatever discounts San Manuel Casino or Merrill Lynch Wealth Management (both sponsors on the outfield wall, though I have no idea if they were party to the recent McCourt dealings) extracted from Frank McCourt will carry to the next owner. And wouldn't it make it less and less appealing for future potential owners to pick up the Dodgers with more and more obligations?
I know the Dodgers might have ratio-based company. But I have to think that when it comes to a precarious financial position, the Dodgers are unfortunately in a league of their own.
Smells like someone's gunning for a reality show.
On my blackberry, it shortened to simply say, "Time is running out on the Dodgers..."
How true.
And while we're on the topic, of the four prize options, which has the best value? I figured the two 2012 season tickets would be the best given you get every game, even in what I assume is the top deck. The other three options (20 suite seats for a 2011 game, four dugout club seats for a future unspecified game, or four baseline box seats for a future unspecified game) are all too ephemeral. I suppose the suite is the best of those latter three; tell you what, if I win it, that will be SoSG Fest 2011!
Labelled by several in attendance as the Worst. Bobblehead. Ever. Though my vote goes for Ryan Howard...
.. of "The Office." Apparently actual quality of Mattingly bobblehead did not stop the a-holes next to us from stealing my friend's.
Despite the actual gameplay of the Dodgers - except for former SoSG-poster boy James Loney, who made some defensive gems - the game was a violence free hoot. Even if the promise of Mattingly head didn't exactly bring in the masses.
Frank McCourt has found a brilliant solution to his financial woes. SELLING WHIP-ITS!
Which at $25 a pop was the best deal in the stadium. And that might explain why I thought they were showing an INTERVIEW WITH THE BOBBLEHEAD.
Off topic - douche of the game. This guy, who chose to stand the entire game. Which in theory I'd respect. Except it was right in front of my view.
At one point, it looked like there would be divine intervention to help the Dodgers. Or at least a rocket strike to put the the fans out of their misery.
I don't know what the SHOCKER Hall of Fame is. I'm not sure I want to know.
And if you don't know what a Shocker is, we're not the one to tell you.
Around the eighth inning, a familiar face showed up: SoSG Local Hero Jameson Moss aka The Don't Stop Believin' Guy aka The Don't Stop Believing Guy
In a world full of fans who turn into annoying schmucks the second they get on Diamond Vision - including yours truly who once snuck behind a baby being filmed to do just that - Jameson is the best in the biz. He actually makes air guitar and lip synching funny. Alas, this was one of the only times that his considerable powers did not alter the course of history, as the Dodgers went gently into that good night.
In a tradition as old as Dodger Stadium itself, the masses left in the ninth of a three run game. Which to this east coast snob's eyes, is just lame. (And I know the readers of SoSG do not fall under this label). Speaking of - to Dusty and all - there's a black hole over Chavez Ravine which only affects my Droid's connection to only Sons of Steve Garvey. Otherwise, I'd be on the Game thread like Carroll on stranding runners.
We have this:
They have that:
(sigh)
We've never done an At-Game Recap from a non-Son before, but what the hell, there's a first time for everything (except half-price beer at Dodger Stadium)! Here's SoSG regular Dusty Baker with a recap from Don Mattingly Bobblehead night, a night where the action on the field was lacking at best; Dusty did his best to at least find company for his misery in fellow SoSG reader Josh S:
All of a sudden, Josh looked up and made note that the column we were standing near bore a fine number, indeed (see below). Note the look we're getting from the law enforcement official in the background.
Josh and I met up on the Field Level right as the game began. We quickly went on search for a birthday beer for me to buy Josh, which ended up being a Firestone DBA on draught. I had to give up the pink slip to my car to make the purchase (cc: Sax). We stood near where our separate but close by seats were and talked and drank our beer.
After this numerological revelation, we headed out in search of some Mexican food. Walked all the way to the even-numbered end of the Field Level only to find Camacho's closed (cc: McCourt). Walked all the way back to the opposite end to find the other Camacho's stand open. However, there was a huge line (cc: Booz-Allen-Hamilton consultants) [Sax's note: not sure here if he's referring to the length of the line here or the girth of the Booz consultants.]. Nonetheless, we stood in line for the requisite 15 minutes or so while the team continued to suck offensively.
In the end, we got three giant hard shell tacos (Dusty) and nachos and a Dodger Dog (Josh). We then repaired to some back row seats to enjoy our light snacks and catch the rest of the game.
Sorry you missed DelinO and Alex Cora (and Alex Cora's mother!) at the Stadium last night! Hope you didn't get any salsa on the bobblehead, however. And thanks for the recap and picture!
UPDATE 6/3 9:22p: As per Dusty's request, here's the above picture, SoSG-ified:
Taking heart from the Dodgers' mini-roll of two series wins? Well, Tom Verducci has a theory. From "Two months in, season all but over for eight teams in 5-and-5 Club" at SI.com:
Even with wild cards, and despite the life ring of rare outliers such as the 2005 Astros to cling to, teams that are bad for the first two months of the season almost never make the playoffs.[...]The Twins, White Sox and Cubs have some company in seeing their postseason chances to dwindle to next to nothing before May is over. Though none qualifies as a surprise pretender, the other members of the 5-and-5 Club (five games under, five games out) are:
Team Record Games Under Games Out Astros 20-34 14 11 Nationals 22-31 8 8 1/2 Padres 23-31 6 7 Royals 23-30 7 6 1/2 Dodgers 25-30 5 5 1/2
All but over, you hear? Hope you didn't get your hopes up too high.
In came the Dodgers, winners of three in a row and platers of 23 runs in their last three games. And before them stood the wiry Ubaldo Jimenez, 0-5 this season with a 5.86 ERA, and clearly and uncharacteristically lost this 2011 season. But just like Spider-Man versus a Juggernaut, the skinny little guy pounded us with fastballs until we restored back to our meek human form.
Through the first eight innings, Jimenez had shut down the Dodgers, who had only eked out three hits, with no runner coming within a whiff of second base. Then Rafael Furcal singled to lead off the ninth, and Casey Blake moved him over to second on a comebacker. So this is what second base looks like! But Andre Ethier flied out to center and Matt Kemp promptly struck out. So the Dodgers go 0-for-2 with RISP, which is pathetic not only for the 0 but also for the 2. There goes the win streak.
Congratulations, Ubaldo, on your first win of the season! Now if you'll excuse us, we have some wounds to which we must tend. Please help yourself to the Don Mattingly bobbleheads on the way out of the Stadium, and don't mind the smoke from the reserve level.
Paul still edging out Dusty for the lead, and both have created slight separation from Josh S. And don't look now, but Karina has passed proven-obsessive commenter Mr F to move into 4th!
Full rankings:
As always, please verify scores. And, because race officials kow-tow to my schedule, they're switching it up one more time...the last Race Day is now THIS FRIDAY, 8am. Not Tomorrow, as originally scheduled, not Monday, as later rescheduled, but Friday, June 3. Good luck!
Jon Garland (1-4, 4.31) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (0-5, 5.86).
What's more surprising: Ubaldo Jimenez's Ubad start in 2011, or that the Dodgers were 3-1 against him in 2010? And what's wrong with Ubaldo this year? Diminished velocity is the symptom, but the cause isn't clear. What is clear is that the Dodgers are going for the sweep of the Rockies — which would make it their first sweep of the season. Are you kidding me? It's been a long two months.
Andre Ethier, who had that torrid 30-game hitting streak in the beginning of the season, but then slumped, took a little break from playing last week to diagnose the problem with his swing. And guess what: it's all about mechanics:
Ethier began Tuesday's game batting .571 (eight for 14) with two doubles, a home run and four runs batted in over the first four games of the Dodgers' current homestand.
He credited Manager Don Mattingly's decision to hold him out of the lineup from Friday to Sunday in Houston. He said he spent those three days working on his swing.
"Balance, hands, body positioning, everything," he said.
Ethier said there was something mechanically wrong with his swing during his hitting streak, which spanned from April 2 to May 6.
"I don't think I ever had a good feeling during the streak, really," Ethier said. "I was just getting hits. I think that was the problem."Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is starting to emerge from his recent two-week slump, something he said is a result of breaking some bad habits he developed during his 30-game hitting streak at the start of the season.
Great to have you back, Andre! Now, if you could please get that mechanic to go take a look under the hood of Juan Uribe, James Loney, Jay Gibbons, Juan Castro, Jerry Sands (for that matter, almost anyone in the lineup with a first initial "J"), Rod Barajas, Rafael Furcal, Tony Gwynn, and Dioner Navarro, that would be great. Maybe we can get a bulk discount (especially if Uribe and Navarro are involved)?
If we only had a former hitting coach, known for his hitting prowess during his playing career, around somewhere to leverage his knowledge...
Molly Knight of ESPN.com has some sources saying that Frank McCourt met the May 31 payroll only by further leveraging the future, squeezing out cash payments now in exchange for sponsorship and luxury box discounts:
Since McCourt has been unable to secure traditional loans to fund the cash-strapped Dodgers, front office executives in charge of revenue were charged with finding more creative ways to help float the troubled franchise for two more weeks.
Current team sponsors were contacted and offered discounts on their annual bills and luxury box stadium seats in exchange for cash up front, according to two sources. It is not known which sponsors took the offer, or the depth of discount they were given.
McCourt is still searching for the funding to make the team's next payroll on June 15, according to two people with knowledge of the Dodgers finances who were not authorized to speak publicly. Should the beleaguered owner fail to make payroll, Major League Baseball would cover it for him and likely formally seize the team.Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt was able to meet the team's payroll Tuesday with cash advances drawn on the team's corporate sponsorship deals, according to three people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly.
I'm expecting that the next time I enter Dodger Stadium parking and fork over my $15, that the attendant will ask if I want to buy a future game's parking in advance, for $12. Or even $8 plus whatever change I can find in my car.
With Ted Lilly's 110-pitch performance last night, coupled with Rubby De La Rosa's 28-pitch performance, not only do the Dodgers win their third game in a row, but ubragg wins a 2011 Dodgers magnet schedule!
Congratulations ubragg, and send us and email with your mailing address so we can get you the goods!
REMINDER: Final Race Day has been rescheduled from tomorrow to next Monday.
Here's the current standings and racetrack status after two days of racing:
Go!
