Pirates Drop One Former Dodgers Catcher, Sign Another

Dodger fans are going to see more of Russell Martin next season after he left the Yankees to sign a two-year, $17-million deal with the Pirates. The Pirates had earlier declined their option on Rod Barajas.

So much for Martin having trouble in this free-agent market. Guess it helps when you're in the best shape of your life!

Happy Birthday, Vin Scully!

Happy 85th birthday to the most musical voice in sports, Vin Scully: twitter.com/Dodgers/status…

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 29, 2012

Happy birthday to the man who makes being a Dodger fan worth it!

Also:

Happy birthday Vin Scully and Ross Porter! #dodgers

— Jon Weisman (@jonweisman) November 29, 2012

• The SoSG Vin Scully Respository

Let's Send an SoSG Reader to the MLB Fan Cave

By now you've probably heard of the MLB Fan Cave, that place in New York City where two diehard baseball fans eat, sleep and drink baseball. Baseball players and musical acts drop by; it's all very social-media friendly.

Well, they're doing it again next year, and are currently accepting applications. Although the Sons are too busy with little details like providing for their families to apply, wouldn't it be cool if an SoSG reader stepped up to the plate and made it in?

Let's look at the requirements:

While participating in the MLB Fan Cave program

Each Winner will:
•Be a passionate baseball fan
•Have a fun and creative personality
•Be highly skilled on social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
•Pass a background check to the satisfaction of MLB

Each Winner must:
•Reside in a location provided by MLB in New York City
•Participate in all aspects of MLB Fan Cave activities, including but not limited to, watching every game of the 2013 MLB season, taking part in media events, interviews, etc.
•Share thoughts regarding games and topics of MLB and pop culture interest via daily blogging, vlogging and through social media platforms
•Adhere to all policies and procedures as required by MLB
•Grant all rights in all aspects of his/her participation in the MLB Fan Cave program to MLB for MLB's use, worldwide, in all media, forever.
•Be twenty-one (21) years of age or older at the time of entry

Forced to blog! Is there any worse existence?

But don't get all confident just because you fit the bill. There's also the talent part of the competition:

Please address one of the following three questions in 400 words or less
a.Tell us why you would be the ideal fan to live out your baseball dreams at the MLB Fan Cave in 2013.
b.Tell us which MLB star you most want to meet, why, and describe the video idea you would want to film with this player.
c.What would you like to see the MLB Fan Cave program do that it hasn't yet?

Yeah, the questions make getting in a little tougher, but our readers are some of the best essay-writers out there. So how about it? Which SoSG reader is willing to put their life on hold and spend a year in a baseball-themed fishbowl?

Managers and Coaches, Oh My

Tommy Lasorda, Rick Honeycutt, Mark McGwire and Don Mattingly pose at a recent organizational meeting held at Dodger Stadium. In the background on the left is longtime Dodger employee (current title: Advisor, Team Travel) Billy DeLury.

Curses, Curses Everywhere

The Madden and SI Curses expanded in 2012 as far as the eye can see. No cover nor poster was safe. (Except that F'ing SI Cover with Notre Dame on it).

This last one was from a while back, but it still haunts my dreams.

Guggenbros About to Get Paid?

From Nikki Finke at Deadline:

It seems strangely logical that the highest-priced sports team in the world is about to score the richest TV deal ever in pro sports history. Insiders tell me that Fox Sports is close to clinching the exclusive TV rights for the Los Angeles Dodgers by paying between $6 billion and $7 billion over 25 years to put the team on its regional sports network in Southern California and of course its national Fox Broadcasting Company. Fox already shows the games on its Prime Ticket local cable channel but also has Fox Sports West here.

The previous agreement expires at the end of next season, and saw Fox Sports paying only about $40 million per season for the Dodgers TV rights. There was speculation the final price would just go north tof $150 million per season. This new deal soars to $280 million per season (the average for the life of the contract). The huge outlay by News Corp demonstrates the increasing value of sports to its bottom line, while the huge payday for Guggenheim offsets the record-setting $2.15 billion price paid for the Dodgers.

If the Dodgers' TV rights do indeed sell for north of $6 billion — versus the team's $2.15 billion purchase price — then I want to borrow whatever crystal ball they're using at Guggenheim Baseball Management. I mean, they'll be richer than...Frank McCourt!

Collitch Football in LA: Where Do You Stand?

Picture in picture tonight, anyone? Who will win their respective games? How much hateHateHATE is there out there around LA tonight?

(8) Stanford at UCLA

(1) Notre Dame at USC

Image: These folks

Happy Thanksgiving, You Crazy Kids...

May all the SoSG-maniacs have much to be thankful for... and within arm's reach.

Thanks to Danny Silver for the assist.

You Maniacs! You Blew It Up!

Dodger Stadium renovation progress, via Patrick O'Neal:

Dodger Stadium under major construction right now. Lower seats torn out. New clubhouse on the way. twitter.com/Patrick_ONeal/…

— Patrick O'Neal (@Patrick_ONeal) November 21, 2012

I wonder if they're changing the seat color scheme again.

Am I crazy, or was there NO formal announcement of what's involved with these renovations? Admittedly, I have my head pretty firmly up Twitter's butt and don't check Dodgers.com a lot, but you think there would have been a press release retweeted a hundred times or something.

Blue Friday!

Get to the Team Store at Dodger Stadium on #BlueFriday for a 50% off sale! The store will be open from 10am-5pm.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 21, 2012

Yankees 100% More Evil with News Corp. Deal

Meg James at LA Times reports that Rupert Murdoch-controlled News Corp. has agreed to purchase a 49% stake in YES, the regional network that carries Yankees games to legions of northeasterners who want to watch that tripe.

In another sign that TV sports rights are the hottest game around, News Corp. has agreed to buy a 49% stake in a regional network that provides local broadcasts of New York Yankees games.

News Corp. did not divulge financial details of the arrangement. However, analysts estimated the media giant controlled by Rupert Murdoch will pay roughly $1.47 billion for the stake in the YankeesEntertainment and Sports Network.

The YES network also agreed to an extension of a TV rights deal that will keep the Bronx Bombers' baseball games on the network through 2042 at substantially higher rates, which could bode well for the Dodgers, who are poised to negotiate a new TV rights deal.

That last sentence is important, leading to this point:

“Now that this deal is complete, the next loudest cheers are probably coming from the Dodgers ownership,” Chase said. “It’s no secret that the Dodgers’ media rights deal is coming up for renewal next year, and you have Fox out there, and Time Warner Cable circling. This now sets the market for what these sports rights deals are worth."

Over-priced pitching busts, here we come! Hell, with that kind of money we could even afford to sign Kevin Brown to do nothing at all. Or to build some more stadium urinals.

Karabell Predicts Beckett Blossoms in 2013

ESPN.com fantasy jock Eric Karabell went through all 30 teams with "bold pitching predictions," and his take on the Dodgers is all about Josh Beckett (with a dig at Brandon League): (link insider only)

Los Angeles Dodgers: A rejuvenated Josh Beckett wins 16 games with a sub-3.00 ERA and 180 strikeouts. Enjoy that home ballpark, fella. And Kenley Jansen saves 40 games. Brandon League for three years? Really? Come on!

A rejuvenated Beckett sounds good to me, too. Our starting pitching could certainly use it.

The Real Reason the Steelers Wear The Stripes

I love throwback jerseys as much as the next guy... especially if they brought back the old noseguards.

But I think many of the SoSG-maniacs out there know why the Steelers have been donning the stripes.

One only has to look back to the 80s for the inspiration.

The Iron Sheik for one is less than thrilled about it, as this VERY NOT SAFE FOR WORK interview stresses.

What Curse?

Hint, Hint, Santa

Dodgers Grounds Crew Visits Pasadena Home

Dodgers Actually Miss Out On Aging Free Agent Outfielder This Time; Hunter To Tigers

Two years, $26M for the amiable 37-year-old Torii Hunter:

Free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter has reached agreement on a two-year, $26 million deal with the Detroit Tigers pending a physical exam, a baseball source said Wednesday.

Hunter, 37, is a .277 hitter with 297 home runs and nine Gold Gloves in 14 seasons with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels.

He hit .313 with the Angels in 2012, but his five-year, $90 million contract expired after the season, and the Angels declined to make him a $13.3 million qualifying offer. That means the Tigers are not obligated to give the Angels draft-pick compensation in exchange for signing Hunter.

2012 IBWAA Awards: How I Voted

Through some bizarre mix of witchcraft and happenstance, I recently became SoSG's lone member of the IBWAA. Thus, I had a vote in this year's baseball awards. I figure it's only fair I give you a peek at my ballot.

We were asked to rank ten players for MVP, five for Cy Young, and three for the rest. I'm only sharing my number ones, but I will tell you I threw a tenth-place vote to Luis Cruz for NL MVP. So there.

AL MVP: Mike Trout
NL MVP: Ryan Braun

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw

AL Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout
NL Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper

AL Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin
NL Manager of the Year: Davey Johnson

AL Reliever of the Year: Jim Johnson
NL Reliever of the Year: Craig Kimbrel

So, a slight variation from the eventual winners. I'm honestly surprised that our group did not elect Mike Trout MVP, considering how vocal some of us were about why he deserves it.

My bias is showing a bit with the NL MVP and Cy awards. I'll admit. I voted for Braun because he put up similar numbers to last year, even without Prince. Voting against him this year flies in the face of all the arguments FOR Kemp last year. Yes, I was able to set aside the PED allegations. We'll see if I look stupid later. Uh, I mean more than usual.

Earlier at SOSG: The IBWAA Results Are In

Dodgers' Reign as Blockbuster Trade Kings Lasted 2 1/2 Months

One source told me Johnson, Buehrle, Reyes, Buck and Bonifacio are all going to #BlueJays. I am working to confirm this. @mlbonfox

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 13, 2012

Confirmed to #Marlins thus far by me and @jonmorosi. Escobar, Hechavarria, H. Alvarez, Nicolino.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 13, 2012

The IBWAA Votes Are In

And here they are....

AL ROY
1st Place: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (unanimous)
2nd Place: Yoenis Céspedes, Oakland Athletics
3rd Place: Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers

NL ROY
1st Place: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
2nd Place: Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks
3rd Place: Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds

AL Manager
1st Place: Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles
2nd Place: Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics
3rd Place: Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays

NL Manager
1st Place: Davey Johnson, Washington Nationals
2nd Place: Bruce Bochy, San Francisco Giants
3rd Place: Dusty Baker, Cincinnati Reds

AL Relief Pitcher
1st Place: Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay Rays
2nd Place: Jim Johnson, Baltimore Orioles
3rd Place: Rafael Soriano, New York Yankees

NL Relief Pitcher
1st Place: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
2nd Place: Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
3rd Place: Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals

AL Cy
1st Place: David Price, Tampa Bay Rays
2nd Place: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
3rd Place: Jered Weaver, Los Angeles of Anaheim
4th Place: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
5th Place: Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox

NL Cy
1st Place: R.A. Dickey, New York Mets
2nd Place: Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
3rd Place: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
4th Place: Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
5th Place: Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants

AL MVP
1st Place: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
2nd Place: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
3rd Place: Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers
4th Place: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
5th Place: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
6th Place: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
7th Place: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
8th Place: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
9th Place: Edwin Encarnación, Toronto Blue Jays
10th Place: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees

NL MVP
1st Place: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
2nd Place: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
3rd Place: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
4th Place: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
5th Place: Chase Headley, San Diego Padres
6th Place: David Wright, New York Mets
7th Place: Adam LaRoche, Washington Nationals
8th Place: Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds
9th Place: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
10th Place: Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 by Howard Cole, editor of BaseballSavvy.com, to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the BBWAA.

Among others, IBWAA members include Barry Bloom, MLB.com; Tim Brown, Yahoo Sports; Fred Claire, former General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers; Joe McDonnell, FoxSportsWest.com; Ramona Shelburne, ESPNLA.com; Tom Hoffarth, J.P. Hoornstra and Jill Painter, Los Angeles Daily News; Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times; and prominent baseball authors Paul Dickson, Peter Golenbock, Josh Pahigian and Dan Schlossberg.

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a yearly fee of $10, or $20 lifetime. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available.

For more information please go to www.ibwaa.com.