Los Angeles Dodgers

11/5/06.. RoxHead report card
2006 Full Season Grade: B+
The Dodgers tied with the Padres for the division title in 2006 which goes to show you once again that if you spend enough cash, then sometimes you will get rewarded. After winning only 71 games in 2005, the owners cleaned house, brought in new management and gave them a blank check.

It worked.

However, the season always ends on a down note for 29 teams as the Mets worked them over pretty good in the playoffs, but that was expected since they were even bigger spenders than the Dodgers were.

Again.. it pays off, doesn't it?

Beyond the current financial spree, the Dodgers did find some nice young players in their farm system and via trades. Pitcher Chad Billingsley and catcher Russell Martin top the class as others like Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Wilson Betemit helped fill out the roster. Old timers like Greg Maddux, Jeff Kemp and Nomar Garciaparra came through as well.

News during the winter will always include the Dodgers. They will look to upgrade in the usual spots such as hitting and pitching. There's already lots of talk about signing big name free agents such as Gary Matthews Jr and Mike Suppan.

8/15/06.. RoxHead.com
The Dodgers are starting to pull away in the race for the NL West crown. It appears as though they made all the right moves before the July 31st trading headline in order for this to happen. Probably the team's success should be attributable to the new GM Ned Colletti, but manager Grady Little has been a big factor also. It's not always easy to juggle around so many high priced veterans and Little has done a fine job of it so far.

Greg Maddux, Wilson Betemit, Julio Lugo, Mark Hendrickson and Toby Hall were all acquired in the weeks or days prior to the non-waiver trade deadline. All have seen the Dodgers only lose a couple ballgames which is remarkable when you consider that they haven't ever played together before.

The Dodgers' most productive hitters this season are Nomar Garciaparra, Andre Ethier, and Rafael Furcal. Garciaparra was signed for cheap over the winter. Ethier was part of the Milton Bradley trade with Oakland last December, and Furcal was a free agent signing over the winter. All these were done by Colletti but the line up on the field was handled by Little and he has had to maneuver around a bunch of key injuries.

Mid Season Grade: C

6/2/06.. RoxHead.com
How the Dodgers are staying competitive is beyond me. The team has been killed by injuries but continues to play well and battle for the division lead. They've had to call up eight rookies this year and yet most have come through and played well. The team has obviously drafted and developed their kids the last couple of years that's for sure. With Eric Gagne coming back and with the rumors that they may be looking at Greg Maddux, look for the Dodgers to hang in there and probably win the division.

2/1/06... Rox Head.com
The Dodgers are not the same team that ended last season. Not even close. Will they be better? Yes, and they should be since they spent more money than a truckload of teenage girls with brand new credit cards. They most likely won't go through a season like 2005 where they had so many injuries. According to ESPN.com and STATS Inc., the Dodgers amassed 1,366 days on the disabled list last season, third most in baseball behind Washington (1,650) and Seattle (1,538). The starting eight position players in the Dodgers 2005 Opening Day lineup logged 366 disabled list days, most in the majors.

The old GM fired his manager, then got fired himself. The owners hired a new GM and gave him a blank check in which to redo a roster that darn near lost as many games as the Rockies did in 2005. The rotation probably is the only area where the Dodgers regressed with the loss of Jeff Weaver, but a team that plays 81 games in that stadium doesn't need a top of the division staff in order to compete.

The bullpen will improve tenfold with the expected return of Eric Gagne and the additions of Danys Baez and Lance Carter. The starting eight went through a complete overhaul with a virtually new infield and outfield. And even though they overpaid for Rafael Furcal and Nomar Garciaparra, they managed all this without damaging a rich farm system which bodes well for their future.

Prediction:
Look for the Dodgers to improve to second in the West with a record of 88-74.

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2005 Full Season Grade: F
The Dodgers were basically a joke in 2005 compiling their worst record since 1992. GM Paul DePodesta is in over his head trying to emulate Billy Bean and continues to make poor baseball moves. All these decisions have cost them to lose a decent manager in Jim Tracy and will only speed up the departure of DePodesta. We should've known bad things were on the horizon for the them when they chose the motto "Think Blue".

The Dodgers had very few highlights to chat about after their hot start in April. In fact, they are quite lucky the Rockies didn't over take them late in the season which would have been a total embarrassment to the franchise, fans and front office. Other than Jeff Kent, who is ancient, this team has no offensive abilities to get excited about. It's true that injuries were many including Eric Gagne which hurt the pen, but the staff as a whole is as bad as they have ever had an at Dodger Stadium.

Pluses: Many of the top prospects will be at Class AAA next season reports TSN.com. Catcher Russell Martin, 22, is farm director Terry Collins' favorite player, and third baseman Andy LaRoche, 22, is a good fielder with intriguing power potential. First baseman James Loney, 21, is a spray hitter who hits for average, and infielder Joel Guzman, who turns 21 this month, could be a huge star if he cuts down on his strikeouts. The Dodgers also are deep in young pitching.

July 2005
The simple fact of the matter is that they will continue to hover around the .500 mark the rest of the season. Jim Tracy will probably pay the price for the uglyness up stairs and the fans will be heard all the way to the Rocky's moaning and groaning about their beloved Dodgers.

Mid Season Grade: D
The Dodgers have some nice players in Jeff Kent, who has had a good first half with his new team (.304, 15 homers, 60 RBIs) and J.D. Drew, Hee-Seop Choi and Milton Bradley have at least 10 homers at the break. However, this team is a shell of the team they could have had and it's now showing signs of completely breaking down. J.D. Drew is down with a broken wrist. Closer Eric Gagne (elbow) is out for the year. Bradley hasn't played since late May because of a bad finger. Third baseman Jose Valentin, who was to have replaced Adrian Beltre, blew out his knee in late April and won't be back. Shortstop Cesar Izturis has a balky hamstring. Lefty Odalis Perez has made only 10 starts because of a sore shoulder. And those are just a few of the problems. Add to that the ineffectiveness of starter Scott Erickson and so-so years from Brad Penny, Jeff Weaver and Derek Lowe and this is what you get.

GM Paul DePodesta will need to pull off something because his reputation rides on it. However, why bother? His job is history in a short time any way so he should just sit back and take the beheading like the idiot that he is.

Preseason Prediction:
The defense got worse, the players got older and the strengths of their home field advantage dissipated. It doesn't take a genius to predict that the Dodgers won't win 93 games again this year. In fact if they win more than they lose, then the manager should be given a ticker tape parade. 83-81 is about the best they can do, which will drop them from first to third place in the division in 2005.

12/7/06
Toronto Sun: "The market for centre fielder Vernon Wells became stronger yesterday. With the Los Angeles Dodgers signing free-agent right-hander Jason Schmidt to a three-year, $47 million US deal, the Dodgers now may move a starter. And the Dodgers have interest in Wells. "
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The Dodgers might entertain offers for starter Brad Penny to acquire an impact bat, but don't look for Los Angeles to make a run at reacquiring third baseman Adrian Beltre from Seattle. "We're not going to take that tour twice," said a Dodgers official. ESPN

12/6/06
Riverside Press Enterprise: "The Dodgers are done dealing with Boston about Manny Ramirez, and all deals for the Red Sox slugger appear dead. The Red Sox were asking the Dodgers for three of their top six prospects in any deal for Ramirez. They had asked the Angels for a package based around pitchers Scot Shields and Ervin Santana."
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Los Angeles Daily News: "Scott Boras, Gagne's Los Angeles-based agent, said Tuesday that the man who once converted an all-time-best 84 consecutive save opportunities might sign a free-agent deal by the end of these winter meetings on Thursday. That doesn't bode well for the Dodgers' chances of keeping him, given that general manager Ned Colletti had said earlier in the day that club officials will be very cautious before re-signing Gagne. "

12/1/06.. What the Dodgers could be focusing on during the winter meetings from baseballprospectus.com:
Los Angeles Dodgers: Ned Colletti has made it clear that he�s Brian Sabean�s offspring, and will consistently value experience over potential. That's why the Dodgers now have a two-year commitment to Nomar Garciaparra despite the possibility that he�s their third-best corner infielder. It wouldn�t surprise me to see Colletti deal for a starting pitcher, something the Dodgers need, using an Andy LaRoche or Jonathan Meloan or a James Loney to get it done. Dodger prospects are for trading, not playing.

11/29/06
Los Angeles Times: "Like pitcher Randy Wolf, catcher Mike Lieberthal is a Philadelphia Phillie who grew up in Southern California. And like the left-handed starter whose one-year contract with the Dodgers became official Tuesday, Lieberthal wants to play at Chavez Ravine.".. and.. "Even before signing the left-handed Wolf to a one-year deal with vesting and club options, the Dodgers had no intention of pursuing Barry Zito - despite numerous published reports to the contrary."

11/28/06
Los Angeles Times: "The Dodgers also are pursuing a power hitter, most likely through a trade. They have had discussions with the Boston Red Sox regarding left fielder Manny Ramirez, but the asking price has been too high. According to a source, the Red Sox want three players, including budding slugger Matt Kemp, the top outfield prospect in the organization."

11/27/06
Philadelphia Inquirer: "Two baseball sources said yesterday that Randy Wolf, a free agent who the Phillies hoped would fill the vacancy in their rotation, is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

11/22/06
The Dodgers and Mariners are the leading candidates to sign Giants free-agent starter Jason Schmidt. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has an "in" with Schmidt from his years as assistant GM in San Francisco. If the Dodgers fail to land Schmidt, they are interested in Blue Jays free-agent left-hander Ted Lilly, also being pursued by the Yankees and Cubs. FOXSports.com

11/20/06
Los Angeles Times: "The Dodgers don't want any part of Barry Bonds, leaving few options to add power to the outfield. Aubrey Huff, who hit 21 home runs last season, is a possibility, as are Luis Gonzalez, Trot Nixon, Craig Wilson and Cliff Floyd... The Dodgers could re-sign Kenny Lofton and are looking at Gary Matthews Jr., Juan Pierre and Dave Roberts."

11/17/06
Los Angeles Times: "Nomar Garciaparra's desire to continue to report for work at Chavez Ravine has eroded reluctance within the Dodgers front office to the point that he is expected to agree to a multiyear contract as soon as today, baseball sources said."

10/30/06
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "At 28 years old, Barry Zito, is only beginning to peak. He will not come cheap, especially with Scott Boras as his agent. Insiders believe he will flirt with the East Coast teams, but eventually will stay on the West Coast. The Dodgers are the leading contenders."

10/8/06
Riverside Press Enterprise: " Even though Garciaparra finished the season batting .303 to earn NL Comeback Player of the Year honors, his health and rookie James Loney, who shined when he replaced the Whittier native in the lineup, could hinder Garciaparra's chance of returning."

10/4/06
Los Angeles Daily News: "The Dodgers probably won't re-sign Garciaparra, a potential free agent who has been healthy and productive enough to drive up his price but still did two stints on the disabled list. But Garciaparra said that is the farthest thing from his mind as he prepares for the postseason."

9/29/06
Los Angeles Times: "The Dodgers can buy out his 2007 option for $1 million, freeing themselves of what would be a $12-million guaranteed salary. Gagne said he would prefer to stay with the Dodgers but does not expect to sign anywhere until he can work out for teams this winter and prove his arm is sound."

8/27/06
Baltimore Sun: "While the Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies have been unable to reach a compromise in a deal for Jeff Conine , the Los Angeles Dodgers now are expressing interest in the 40-year-old veteran." And.. "One of the most intriguing contract negotiations this winter will occur in Los Angeles between Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and super agent Scott Boras. At stake is the future of 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne."

8/25/06
Los Angeles Daily News: "The Dodgers figure to delve heavily into the free-agent market again this coming offseason. They probably will lose Garciaparra, whose resurgence will command far more than his current $6million base salary (with bonuses that still could take it to $10 million)."

8/19/06
While the Dodgers are surging to an NL West crown, 6-foot-9 starter Mark Hendrickson hasn't been making much of a contribution to the push. Since being acquired from the D-Rays on June 28, the soft-tossing lefty is 1-5 and has gone seven innings just once in nine starts. After getting pounded by the Marlins on Wednesday for five runs in 2.1 innings, his ERA with the Dodgers is now 5.19. FOXSports.com

8/15/06
Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers: "Drew has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave the Dodgers at season's end, but the Dodgers owe him $11 million next season, $11 million after that and another $11 million on top of that, so name a baseball team that's going to give a dead man more than $33 million for the next three seasons. That means Drew probably isn't going anywhere, which could very well make him a drag on the Dodgers' future plans unless he shows some life."

8/13/06
Los Angeles Times: "For the Dodgers, this could be the $70-million question this winter: Daisuke Matsuzaka or Barry Zito? ...With the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners eager to bid and the Angels interested as well, the rights fee for Matsuzaka could be two to three times more than the one for Ishii."

8/11/06
LOS ANGELES already has cleared out its excess baggage, releasing Jose Cruz Jr. and trading Odalis Perez and Sandy Alomar Jr. GM Ned Colletti also addressed areas of concern by picking up right-hander Greg Maddux and infielder Julio Lugo, although the price for those two was steep - infielder Cesar Izturis and outfield prospect Joel Guzman. Rocky

8/9/06
A case could be made for outfielder Andre Ethier as NL Rookie of the Year. He's hitting a robust .349 (through Sunday), which would be leading the league lead if he had enough at-bats to qualify. The Dodgers felt so comfortable with him in left field that they released Jose Cruz Jr.

Meanwhile, Russell Martin has taken over as the everyday catcher and is hitting around .300. Right-hander Chad Billingsley has a 3-3 record in 10 starts and will remain in the rotation despite the addition of Greg Maddux. Reliever Jonathan Broxton throws in the upper 90s and could be a closer candidate next season. BaseballWeekly

7/29/06
Orange County Register: "With Betemit acquired to play third base, Colletti said Cesar Izturis would be asked to make another position switch - to second base while Jeff Kent is on the DL. But the deal could also make Izturis more tradeable now that he is being replaced at third base."

7/16/06
Chicago Tribune: "Since last winter, the Sox have intended to keep their five starters and Brandon McCarthy through this season unless they receive a valuable reliever and a McCarthy-like pitching prospect in return for one of them. The Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers have scouted each other's organizations thoroughly since May but couldn't find a match even though the Dodgers are stacked with young pitching."

7/13/06
Los Angeles Times: "Trading Izturis for a starting pitcher and promoting LaRoche is a scenario favored by some in the organization. However, General Manager Ned Colletti doesn't like to put a rookie in a sink-or-swim situation, and that's what he would be doing with LaRoche, who has played only a handful of games at triple A."
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Riverside Press Enterprise: " Ned Colletti has said the team with the best pitching will probably win the division. Stars Dontrelle Willis, Barry Zito and Livan Hernandez could be enticing late-season acquisitions, but the prices would likely be steep and involve top prospects."

7/9/06
Riverside Press Enterprise: " Acquired from Tampa Bay on June 27 along with pitcher Mark Hendrickson, Toby Hall said after the game that his agent, Seth Leverson, already is talking with the Dodgers about finding a team where he can play more."
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Los Angeles Times: "It appears Eric Gagne would only remain a Dodger if the team renegotiates a deal with him. The Dodgers are not expected to pick up his $12-million option."

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