[Closed] The 2009 Hot Stove League: Making us Phillie Proof in 2010

Mike Scioscias tragic illness:

We only owe Manny $10 million in 2010, assuming he accepts. $5m of his 2010 salary, and $5m of his 2009 salary.

Minus about $1.66M in deferred suspension adjustment.

Manny Acta turns down the 'stros, will manage the Tribe.

beefchopper:

How did they find McGwire to hire him? I thought he was hiding in Dick Cheney's secret location.

As I remember, didn't Matt Holliday train extensively with McGwire last offseason upon being dealt to Oakland? Maybe Holliday liked him so much that this is a part of STL's push to retain him.

I, personally, prefer going with DeWitt and/or DeJesus.

Either should be able to do a decent enough job at 2B.

With all our arb eligible players, we need to find positions where we can still utilize good, cheap talent.

My guess is that will be at 2B, on the bench and in the pen.

I figure that DeWitt will man 2B and I gotta think when Manny exercises his option for 2010, they will deal Pierre.

At this point, there will be a market for him because he only has 2 yrs left on his contract and if the Dodgers do eat one-third of his contract, its a pretty affordable, short-term deal for a guy who can hit .300 and steal 60 bases.

If they can do that, then X.Paul will probably end up the 4th OF. I also suspect that Hu will be the back up SS and they will sign cheap FAs to back up the rest of the infield.

Die-Hard Dodger Fan:

I, personally, prefer going with DeWitt and/or DeJesus.

Either should be able to do a decent enough job at 2B.

With all our arb eligible players, we need to find positions where we can still utilize good, cheap talent.

My guess is that will be at 2B, on the bench and in the pen.

I figure that DeWitt will man 2B and I gotta think when Manny exercises his option for 2010, they will deal Pierre.

At this point, there will be a market for him because he only has 2 yrs left on his contract and if the Dodgers do eat one-third of his contract, its a pretty affordable, short-term deal for a guy who can hit .300 and steal 60 bases.

If they can do that, then X.Paul will probably end up the 4th OF. I also suspect that Hu will be the back up SS and they will sign cheap FAs to back up the rest of the infield.

You can't give DeJesus the Opening Day job because he missed all of 2009 with that broken leg and still hasn't even been to AAA yet. Maybe later in the year, but not off the bat. And I just don't think they have any confidence in DeWitt, so I expect they'll either resign Belliard (hopefully not) or look elsewhere.

Harpo:

I can envision this exchange on the first day of spring training ...

Player: "Coach, in 2008, we hit .281 with a .783 OPS. In 2009, we dropped off to a .263 average and .747 OPS. What went wrong, and how can we reverse this downward trend?"

McGwire: "I'm not here to talk about the past."
 

That, or...

McGwire: "well, how far are you willing to go? because, I know a guy...."

I'm not sure what the effect of hiring someone's friend is on a Boras client ... either you're the high bid or not.

Die-Hard Dodger Fan:

Yeah, I agree with grabarkewitz re: Honeycutt. Facts are, his contract is up after this year and the organization is free to move in any direction they want.

Not saying Honeycutt will be fired (I have seen no evidence to show that is true), but if he is, there will be no cause for wrongful termination on his part.

Reality is, when they analyze this season, it should be apparent that a big reason for the Dodgers not making it to the World Series the last two years has been disappointing performances by the pitching staff in the NLCS.

Am I saying its all Honeycutt's fault? No. But is it EVER solely a manager or coach's fault for a team underperforming? No.

Unfortunately, someone's head has to roll if a team sees itself as needing to improve or get to the next level.

Kevin Kennedy has been very critical on XM Radio in the last several days of the Dodgers' approach against the Phillies' line-up. He said at one point he tracked 22 straight fastballs thrown by Dodger pitchers. He was very disappointed by their performance. This is one reason that I wished Kennedy had been hired as one of their announcers. He wants the Dodgers to win, but he doesn't mince words, and he tells things as he sees them. I respect and appreciate that in this age of homerism and inane yelling that passes for announcing.

beefchopper:

Even without the divorce, I can't see McCourt spending what it would take to get a real ace. Watch the Dodgers propaganda machine start trying to convince all Dodgers fans that Kershaw is the real ace we're looking for and that we "don't need" to spend big for anyone else. I fully expect the rotation to be filled out with whoever is the 2010 version of the Wolf/Garland/Padilla type gambles.

I agree--we'll hear praise heaped on Kershaw's development and the expectation that he will become the Dodgers' version of Sabathia or Santana very soon. He's going to be great, but he can't be expected to be the ace they need for 2010.

DoppelgangBang:

You have to offer arb to Wolf and Hudson. It's just bad business if you don't. The only reason you CANNOT offer arb to those two is if the payroll is FROZEN and you do NOT want to spend a dime more than you have to on the draft.

I think this is a good year to restock the farm - we're positioned well to do so - and to send some arb-eligible players out in trades if we can get near full value. If we stand pat or lower the payroll and tighten up, it'll be clear that the McCourt regime has hit rock bottom. We were 11th this year in payroll ... behind Houston, Seattle, Detroit and the Angels. That's pathetic.

You hit the nail on the head--and I'm afraid that's exactly what we'll see happen.

DoppelgangBang:

And attendance was UP! Who cares by how much? Supposedly the reason to lower payroll was that attendance might drop significantly, yet it rose and we're still expected to buy this line of BS about tightening the belt and how he's not raising ticket prices? He raised ticket prices SIGNIFICANTLY the first 3 friggin years!!!!!!!!!

They were raised FOUR years, actually. I hope these clowns leave Los Angeles.

elysianpark62:

They were raised FOUR years, actually. I hope these clowns leave Los Angeles.

Yeah, I have no sympathy for them. Their communication with the fans is always to LCD and they seem completely two-faced to me. To say that you justify your slashing payroll in 2009 and the further limiting of payroll due to attendance being up only 1% from 2008 is ludicrous. Attendance has been EXCELLENT as has fan support. All of this coupled with the fact that we've been GOUGED in every facet of the ballpark experience - food, beer, parking, tickets - EVERYTHING.

I understand that this is a business ... but letting the fans know that there won't be significant improvements to the team and that the payroll will stay in the middle of the pack despite being in the 2nd largest metro in the country ... because attendance ONLY GREW by 1%? That's just ridiculous. In a down economy, we exceeded even the year prior's gates! That should be a sign that you can return the payroll to the level of 2008, not that you were correct to reduce it. Either you're a liar ... or you had no clue what you were doing and your 2008 payroll was grossly mismanaged. Either way ...

LAME.

BluePastorKyle:

I'd rather plug Tony Abreu in there.

Oh.

Wait.

Seriously, I think the prudent and practical way to go is with DeWitt to start the year, then see where DeJesus is come June or so. 2B isn't that huge of a need, IMO. Given where the Blue are at financially, I'm guessing they'll stick a good defensive guy in there for $1.5M or so, or just simply go the in-house route. Filling the rotation holes is top priority, and I believe 2B will come into the conversation much later in the winter once the rotation is addressed.

didn't we lose abreu to the snakes for garland . . . . eventually

DoppelgangBang:

Yeah, I have no sympathy for them. Their communication with the fans is always to LCD and they seem completely two-faced to me. To say that you justify your slashing payroll in 2009 and the further limiting of payroll due to attendance being up only 1% from 2008 is ludicrous. Attendance has been EXCELLENT as has fan support. All of this coupled with the fact that we've been GOUGED in every facet of the ballpark experience - food, beer, parking, tickets - EVERYTHING.

I understand that this is a business ... but letting the fans know that there won't be significant improvements to the team and that the payroll will stay in the middle of the pack despite being in the 2nd largest metro in the country ... because attendance ONLY GREW by 1%? That's just ridiculous. In a down economy, we exceeded even the year prior's gates! That should be a sign that you can return the payroll to the level of 2008, not that you were correct to reduce it. Either you're a liar ... or you had no clue what you were doing and your 2008 payroll was grossly mismanaged. Either way ...

LAME.

This divorce is just another in a long line of excuses and lies to maximize their profits. While I think the divorce is real, the excuses don't hold any water anymore. Even in a down economy, they made money. All the talk about giving the fans and the City of Los Angeles a great team is a lot of bunk. They fell into a great situation, let Ned make some huge mistakes and then went into line their pocket mode. If Logan White hadn't worked his magic under Dan Evans (who they treated like a dog) and PDP (another GM they tossed away like an old newspaper), the McCourts would be lucky to draw dick. It is time for at least one of these clowns to be gone. We will never be rid of both. Right now, Jamie is making the right moves, she isn't getting into a pissing contest in the media, yet, and she is being pro-active in working the local billionaires for money to buy out the Clueless One. If Frank had as much brains as chutzpah, he would be trolling for the uber-rich, also.

Mike Scioscias tragic illness:

I can't believe the world series hasn't even started yet. Let's get on with firing up that hot stove already!

Kissyface had some interesting catchers available in trades. Kelly Shoppach caught my eye pretty quickly as he is just a year removed from a very good season. Seeing as how it looks like the Indians will go with Marson and Santana in 2010, Shoppach could be had for cheap and his contract demands shouldn't be too awful. Plus, he would give us the resources to rest Martin or replace him if Martin is not fixable.

Doumit, and Snider are too expensive unless the Pirates or Snakes eat some significant money. Buck is up for arbitration and he will likely be spendy. Of Pena and Towles, neither impresses me enough to go after them unless they are released.