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"To repeat what I said in October, my personal situation and divorce has no bearing on the team whatsoever," McCourt said…
McAsshat, are you off your meds?
Are you really so blind and/or stupid to actually believe that?
Have you ever even heard of John Moores?
…responding to fans' concerns that the Dodgers' decision not to make a major offseason acquisition thus far is proof he's financially strapped.
You are financially strapped! You said so yourself, you maroon! I didn’t need to see the lack of off season spending to know you’re financially strapped… You told us all, plain as day.
Or were you lying then too?
"As I've said, I own the team and we're moving forward as we have in the past six years.”
Yeah, we just can’t spend more than $50K to get there.
"We're committed to developing young players, more so than ever. We've invested heavily in that area.
Lie #3!
You’ve cut the scouting budget; You’ve traded away top talent to save a few bucks; You’ve been among the lowest spending owners in the Amateur Draft for years; You closed the Dominican academy.
What part of what you’ve done shows you’re investing AT ALL in this area?
Skeptics such as agents claim the Dodgers' payroll has been frozen because of the divorce, pointing out that the only major recent move was the trade of veteran Juan Pierre, which shed $8 million off the payroll over the next two years. The Dodgers' payroll, $120 million in 2008, fell to $100 million in 2009 and is projected to drop again in 2010 to around $85 million to $90 million.
McCourt, however, defended his strategy of relying increasingly on young and less expensive homegrown talent after several costly free-agent mishaps (Jason Schmidt, Andruw Jones, etc.) earlier on his watch. In a departure from recent years, the club is talking about multiyear contracts with four of its top young players.
Prices are up across the board at games; Profits are up; Yet payroll has dropped each of the last two years and looks to again this year. Count me as one of the skeptics for sure.
A two year contract that doesn’t even cover all the years of team control is a long term contract?
Whatever, McJoke.
"We've spent a huge amount of money during my tenure as owner.
Yeah, most of it going to Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt, Juan Pierre…
Not really the most convincing arguement you could make, McIdiot.
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.”We're a big-market team and fans deserve a great team on the field," he said.
Yet this big market team has consistently nickel and dimed the roster. And you’ve cut payroll for three years running (in all likelihood).
We ARE a big market team, in that you are correct. Unfortunately, you are a small market wanna-be trying to make it in a big man’s world.
"One of our core promises is to consistently put a championship-caliber team on the field. I wish there was a direct correlation between how much you spend and how many games you win. Unfortunately, there is not. The key is how wisely you spend the money.
“Uhh, Mr. McBoston, Andruw Jones is on line 1. He just read the latest article on the Dodgers home page. Uhhh, he’s laughing uncontrolably.”
"So what I say is, judge us on how well we do.
McDoofus, you’re failing.
The team is doing well, but you are failing in your roll.
Failing miserably.
“When I bought the team, it hadn't won a postseason game in 15 years. We won a postseason game. It hadn't won a playoff series in 20 years. We won a playoff series. It hadn't won back-to-back division titles in 31 years. We won back-to-back titles. ... Those are the facts."
Before you bought the team, it had a renowned presence in the Dominican and we were the leaders in baseball in Dominican player development. Before you bought the team, it had one of the top 5 minor league systems annually, restocking each year through the amateur player draft. Before you bought the team, it’s payroll was routinely among the top in the league. Before you bought the team, it was not the butt of all financial jokes. Before you bought the team, it didn’t have to constantly remind people that it was a big market team, because it actually ACTED like one . . . . THOSE are the facts.
"It's happened in part because of what we spent," he said. "But equally or more, because we have a development system in place and a way to do business to identify big league talent and develop players that can play here for a period of time and give us consistency and who the fans can relate to. What I would say to any fan, I welcome questions and comments, but judge us on how well we do at end of the season."
Just reading this is making me feel all dirty and cheap.
Speaking of judgment, the McCourt divorce has a trial date of May 24. According to court papers, Jamie McCourt is contesting ownership of the club and the validity of a marital property agreement she signed providing full ownership of the franchise to Frank McCourt and ownership of most of the other assets of their marriage to her.
And now the other half of Dumb and Dumber…
Because of that document, Frank McCourt said the Dodgers ownership situation shouldn't be compared to that of the San Diego Padres -- who were sold last year as the result of owner John Moores' divorce.
"When you talk about California, a community property state, and a divorce and sports teams, people might come to the conclusion that the team gets split and so forth, and perhaps that's the situation in San Diego," he said. "My situation is different. There were agreements signed and those agreements alter what is normally the case in a community property state. That's my case. I have agreements, they are public record and they show very clearly I own the team, 100 percent of the team, and I have since I arrived. It's a totally different situation.
"I own the team, it's not for sale and my hope someday is that my four boys will own the team. When people process this situation, they go down a path that the team is owned 50/50 and one party has to buy out the other. That's when you need a partner and that's not this situation. I own 100 percent. There's nothing to buy."
Does anyone else feel like jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge right about now?
.
.
.
There’s more, but truthfully . . . I’m drained. McSpinmeister is digging the hole faster than I can fill it. This is more idiocy than one human should have to keep up with.
Well, except for Joe Morgan.
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.ESPN has a poll on their main page relating to Tim Lincecum's arbitration case. The question is,
Tim Lincecum asked for $13 million in arbitration,and the Ginats offered $8 million. What should he get?
And the possible answers?
A.) $13 million
B.) $11-12 million
C.) $9-10 million
D.) $8 million
Now, shouldn't the Worldwide Leader in Sports know that selections B and C are impossible?
Idiots.
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.hunteralan:ESPN has a poll on their main page relating to Tim Lincecum's arbitration case. The question is,
Tim Lincecum asked for $13 million in arbitration,and the Ginats offered $8 million. What should he get?
And the possible answers?
A.) $13 million
B.) $11-12 million
C.) $9-10 million
D.) $8 millionNow, shouldn't the Worldwide Leader in Sports know that selections B and C are impossible?
Idiots.
Did Morgan put the poll together?
Poor fella, he has no ideaocmike24:Did Morgan put the poll together?
Why - was Dave Concepcion listed ?
Every silver lining has a cloud.kennerbuggy:Why - was Dave Concepcion listed ?
Not possible. The topic wasn't about the Hall of Fame.
Poor fella, he has no ideahunteralan:ESPN has a poll on their main page relating to Tim Lincecum's arbitration case. The question is,
Tim Lincecum asked for $13 million in arbitration,and the Ginats offered $8 million. What should he get?
And the possible answers?
A.) $13 million
B.) $11-12 million
C.) $9-10 million
D.) $8 millionNow, shouldn't the Worldwide Leader in Sports know that selections B and C are impossible?
Idiots.
I got money on Kruk putting this one together.
I'll play the radio on Southern stations because Southern Belles are Hell at night...Yankees, Damon would've been a solid fit
Ken “The Midjit” Rosenthal
Could’ve. If Damon hadn’t been so stupid with his demands.
Talk about a dumb divorce.
Really? It’s dumb for the Yankees not to pay way more than a players’ worth? That sounds rather smart to me. Even for the Yankees.
(I can’t believe I’m defending the Evil Empire…)
The Yankees need Johnny Damon.
Evidently not, or they would have . . . . . you know . . . . . . signed him…
Damon needs the Yankees. But so much for happily ever after.
Yeah, so much for happiness.
The Yankees will just have to make do with Teixeira, A-Roid, Jeter, Granderson, Posada, Sabathia, Vazquez, Burnett, Rivera…. And all the other WS Champions.
Not to mention poor, poor little Johnny and his career $100 million earnings.
The joy in Mudville has gone out…
The World Series champions will replace Damon with Randy Winn, Brett Gardner and maybe a right-handed hitter such as Rocco Baldelli on a minor-league contract.
I suppose so.
And they’ll replace Gardner and Melky Cabrera with Curtis Granderson. And Chad Gaudin, Chin Ming Wang, Sergio Mitre and the rest of the tired masses in the #5 rotation spot with Javier Vazquez (a legit ace on most teams).
Seriously.
I know! Looks like pretty good upgrades, huh?
The Yankees, you see, are on a budget.
Yeah, like Tommy Lasorda is on a diet…
I’m calling it now: The Yankees will be looking for a better left fielder in July. Damon, possibly headed to a second-division club, will be one of their prime trade targets.
Could be. And you know what, Midj… In this scenario, they would land Damon at a price that is reasonable and equal to his worth instead of the inflated ridiculousness he and Satan are demanding now.
Sounds like pretty sound financial reasoning once again.
Even for the Yankees.
Enjoy Oakland, Johnny, or wherever you land.
Hey! I already said that.
Oh, Damon’s agent, Scott Boras, still might pull off one of his patented escapes. But none of the teams currently linked to Damon — legitimately or not — is a big spender.
The A’s and Rays are bargain-hunting. The Reds have not even re-signed the modestly priced Jonny Gomes. The Tigers, in need of a leadoff man and left-handed hitter, are a good match for Damon, and they found enough money to award closer Jose Valverde a two-year, $14 million free-agent contract. Their preference, though, might be an infielder.
If the Tigers had to ’find’ enough money just to sign a closer to an above market contract, how can you also believe they will miraculously find more money for Damon? A team that recently traded Curtis Granderson because he was getting too expensive is all of a sudden going to find millions to throw at an aging, slow, poor defending, weak armed outfielder?
Pretty thin ledge you’re on there Midjit.
Not that that’s anything new for you.
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.Put it all together, and a one-year contract in the $6 million to $8 million range for Damon seems likely.
Are you on something, Ken? I mean other than the booster seat at your desk.
Evidently FOX doesn’t do drug testing.
Boras, however, is seeking at least $9 million, according to one interested executive.
I think I know Midjit’s supplier…
The Yankees, coming off a championship season in a new ballpark, say they could not afford such a salary. They drew the line with Damon, for reasons that only they understand.
No, not only the Yankees, Ken. Most clear thinking humanoids with half a brain understand why the Yankees didn’t overpay for an aging, slow, poor defending, weak armed outfielder. Not to mention they have Granderson, Jeter, Nick Johnson (and his .400+ OBP), Teixeira, A-Roid, Posada, Cano and Swisher in the lineup already and they don’t need another big bat. What they needed, and wanted by all reports, was better defense. Hence, out with the aging, slow, poor defending, weak armed Damon and in with the defensively gifted Gardner and/or Winn.
See, it’s really not that hard to understand, Ken.
What is hard to understand, is how you, a supposed baseball expert with supposed inside knowledge of Major League organizations can’t understand it.
Kind of sad and embarrassing, don’t you think?
I mean, I’m just a normal everyday Joe and I understand it. Just a common plebian and it makes sense to me. Have no connections to any front office in any major league town and I get it. You’re the great and mighty Ken Rosenthal who knows all and see all. You’re the one everyone in baseball wants to talk to (by the way Ken, they’re not bowing to you, they’re just trying to reach your eye level). Why is it that you don’t understand logic and sound reasoning?
Boras, who told The New York Times that the Yankees never even made Damon an offer, needed to shop his client to other teams more aggressively.
Or, drop the ridiculously inflated price tag.
There is simply no excuse for a player of this quality to be in such a compromised position.
Yes there is. It’s a very good reason too. A player of this quality is worth X-amount of dollars in this market and the player of this quality in question was asking for XXXXXXXXXX-amount of dollars.
He, and his greedy agent, put himself in this position.
Damon, 36, had a higher adjusted OPS last season than Bobby Abreu — a career-high adjusted OPS, in fact.
Hmmmm, I wonder how much of that career-high adjusted OPS was due to the 110-foot right field porch in Yankee Stadium? Well, okay, it’s not 110-feet . . . But Damon did hit 17 of his 24 home runs at the new little league park in New York. And every single one of them was hit to right field, where balls were flying out at a higher pace than flights out of LaGuardia.
Damon, just as Jeter and most of the Yankees, was a product of the new ballpark. He didn’t suddenly have a renaissance or find the Fountain of Youth (heck not even Jack Sparrow has found that yet…), he simply benefitted from hitting in the most homer friendly park in baseball in 2009. His batting average was right in line with his career mark; So was his OBP. The only discernable difference in Damon’s numbers were his power numbers.
Any idea why that was, Ken?
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.Abreu, who is five months younger than Damon, re-signed with the Angels for $19 million over two years without even becoming a free agent. Damon is scrounging for a job.
Yup, Abreu signed with a club who wanted to keep him. And he got a good deal. He also signed early, when the getting was good. He didn’t demand too much money over too many years either. Damon did. And now he’s paying the price for it. Too bad, so sad.
Raul Ibanez, 37, signed a three-year, $31.5 million free-agent contract with the Phillies in an even worse economy last off-season.
Raul Ibanez is a better player than Damon. Maybe not by much, but he is better. And he was needed in Philly. Damon’s not needed in New York.
The money is irrelevant. Just because one player gets said amount of money doesn’t mean that another player will get said amount of money as well. Different teams, different owners, different needs, different times… I could go on, but really, this is a complete non sequitur.
Mike Cameron, 37, signed a two-year, $15.5 million free-agent contract with the Red Sox this off-season.
Ditto.
Not to mention that Cameron is a FAR superior defender to weak armed Johnny.
Where’s Johnny?
I dunno… At home maybe?
True, Damon is a below-average defender…
Yes, he is. Waaaay below-average. Poor even.
…but Ibanez hardly was considered Gold Glove material. Neither was Adam Dunn, who signed a two-year, $20 million free-agent contract with the Nationals last off-season, nor Pat Burrell, who signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Rays.
But, again, Ibanez is a superior offensive player to Damon. Has been for many years. And while Damon was aging badly until he moved into the new Yankee Stadium, Ibanez has aged very well and has remained very productive (more productive than Damon to be sure). And while Dunn may be the only outfielder worse than Damon defensively, he hits 40 home runs and walks 100+ times simply by falling out of bed. And Dunn is years younger than Damon. Please tell me you’re not trying to insinuate that Damon is anywhere close to the production level of Adam Dunn?
As for Burrell… Not much excuse for that one, except to say that Damon probably could have had a deal very similar to that if he were just willing to come down from his outrageous demands long enough to see the market logically.
The new, bottom-line Yankees should take no satisfaction in having read the market better than Boras. Their brilliant analytical skills will leave them with the plodding, frequently injured Nick Johnson rather than Damon in the No. 2 spot, and a left-field grouping reminiscent of their ill-fated Doug Mientkiewicz-Josh Phelps duo at first base in 2007.
Nick Johnson and his career .400+ OBP.
Just wanted to throw that out there.
The Yankees, rather than pick through the modest list of remaining free agents, could have just traded for someone like the Nationals’ Josh Willingham or Royals’ David DeJesus, both of whom will earn less than $5 million this season.
Could have. How do you know they didn’t try?
Oh that’s right, you have your finger on the pulse of Major League Baseball…
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.Winn, the winner of the Yankees’ $2 million lottery, is a switch-hitter who batted .158 against left-handers last season, .292 against right-handers. Gardner bats left, so the chances of a platoon appear, well, minimal.
Gardner hit in the .290’s versus lefties and had an OPS almost 100 points higher versus lefties last year (almost .800). I don’t know if New York will attempt to platoon the two or not, but the chances of it happening and working appear, well, at least a little better than minimal.
Instead, the Yankees plan to offer nonroster invitations to one or more right-handed hitting outfielders; earlier this week, they acquired one such player — Greg Golson, a speedy type — from the Rangers.
THE YANKEES HAVE GRANDERSON, JETER, TEIXEIRA, A-ROID, POSADA, AND MORE IN THEIR LINEUP ALREADY!!! Why are you soooo stuck on little ‘ol Johnny?
This is bordering on obsession, Ken.
Winn, 35, is a solid corner defender, and defense is the new offense of statistically-minded executives. But Reed Johnson, a right-handed hitting free agent, appeared a more logical fit.
Maybe so. And again, how do you know they didn’t make an offer?
Oh yeah . . . that whole . . . pulse and . . . MLB thing…
Damon was proven in New York, proven in the postseason. He and Hideki Matsui were part of the Yankees’ championship fiber. Yes, both are in their mid-30s. But something will be missing — something immeasurable — without them.
Aging, slow, poor defending, weak armed players?
The Yankees miscalculated. Damon miscalculated. Both will be poorer for it.
‘Poor’ and ‘Yankees’ are not allowed in the same sentence. I read it in the MLB rulebook.
Damon + $100 million career earnings = Definitely, absolutely, definitively, 100% NOT poor.
The Midjit + computer keyboard = . . . . . . Well, you be the judge.
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.Something is in the water in Milwaukee. According to ESPN.com, a statue of Bud Lite is being erected for display near Miller Stadium. Tell me which statue doesn't belong; a) Robin Yount, b) Hank Aaron and c) Bud Lite? If anyone answered anything but "c", get yourself some medical help. You have obviously lost your mind and are having difficulty finding it.
I'll play the radio on Southern stations because Southern Belles are Hell at night...grabarkewitz:Something is in the water in Milwaukee. According to ESPN.com, a statue of Bud Lite is being erected for display near Miller Stadium. Tell me which statue doesn't belong; a) Robin Yount, b) Hank Aaron and c) Bud Lite? If anyone answered anything but "c", get yourself some medical help. You have obviously lost your mind and are having difficulty finding it.
On the other hand - I'd contribute toward a statue of The Brand if it was the precursor for them being ex-owners !
Every silver lining has a cloud.kennerbuggy:On the other hand - I'd contribute toward a statue of The Brand if it was the precursor for them being ex-owners !
Just tell me where to send the check and I am in. Shoot, I will even go the extra mile and take bids for the statue.
I'll play the radio on Southern stations because Southern Belles are Hell at night...grabarkewitz:Just tell me where to send the check and I am in. Shoot, I will even go the extra mile and take bids for the statue.
My thought is that the statute would be in a pond and would also serve as a pigeon stand and urinal. That seems a fitting compliment to the portable consession stands and shortage of bathroom facilities.
How about animatronics, with Frank speachifying about being The Steward of a Storied Franchise and Hot Lips baying like a coyote?
Every silver lining has a cloud.kennerbuggy:My thought is that the statute would be in a pond and would also serve as a pigeon stand and urinal. That seems a fitting compliment to the portable consession stands and shortage of bathroom facilities.
How about animatronics, with Frank speachifying about being The Steward of a Storied Franchise and Hot Lips baying like a coyote?
Coyote? I thought she was Cougar.
kennerbuggy:My thought is that the statute would be in a pond and would also serve as a pigeon stand and urinal. That seems a fitting compliment to the portable consession stands and shortage of bathroom facilities.
How about animatronics, with Frank speachifying about being The Steward of a Storied Franchise and Hot Lips baying like a coyote?
I like Sam's idea better. But, make sure that Frank's wallet is in her mouth and she is poised to spring the other direction.
I'll play the radio on Southern stations because Southern Belles are Hell at night...Now, from the ridiculous (statue of Bud Lite) to the sublime (Steve Phillips). The Stupidest Man in the World, Steve Phillips admits he has a problem with sex (yeah, his taste in marriage-breakers is pretty freakin' bad, also) and has been spending the last few months in therapy at the same clinic as Tiger Woods (I hope they fitted Phillips for glasses). Steve is trying to repair his life, but his wife of nineteen years has filed for divorce. The kicker is, he is still living at their home with her. Don't know who is more stupid, Steve for ruining a long marriage to chase a beastie or his wife, Marni, for letting the tool move back home. IMO, they are both made for each other. I see ESPN hiring this clown back. After all, who are they gonna team up with Kruk to make Kurkjian look less moronic? It is not like Frank or Bud are looking for work, yet.
I'll play the radio on Southern stations because Southern Belles are Hell at night...grabarkewitz:Now, from the ridiculous (statue of Bud Lite) to the sublime (Steve Phillips). The Stupidest Man in the World, Steve Phillips admits he has a problem with sex (yeah, his taste in marriage-breakers is pretty freakin' bad, also) and has been spending the last few months in therapy at the same clinic as Tiger Woods (I hope they fitted Phillips for glasses). Steve is trying to repair his life, but his wife of nineteen years has filed for divorce. The kicker is, he is still living at their home with her. Don't know who is more stupid, Steve for ruining a long marriage to chase a beastie or his wife, Marni, for letting the tool move back home. IMO, they are both made for each other. I see ESPN hiring this clown back. After all, who are they gonna team up with Kruk to make Kurkjian look less moronic? It is not like Frank or Bud are looking for work, yet.
Steve was never a good judge of talent. I'm surprised the one lover of his that we've seen a picture of isn't worse looking.
Every silver lining has a cloud.kennerbuggy:Steve was never a good judge of talent. I'm surprised the one lover of his that we've seen a picture of isn't worse looking.
Did you see that picture? She looked like she fell out of the ugly tree and hit every limb on the way down. No discernible redeeming features on that mug shot I saw.
kennerbuggy:Steve was never a good judge of talent. I'm surprised the one lover of his that we've seen a picture of isn't worse looking.
That really got me. Hahah ... so true.
The mad scientist formerly known as ngrossSooo ... there are people that are better at this than I ... and someone NEEDS to do an "idiocy gene" treatment of that McCourt interview on ESPN/LA's DodgerThoughts. This guy is such a tool. His quotes are ripe for mockery. Please?
The mad scientist formerly known as ngrossSamAdams:Did you see that picture? She looked like she fell out of the ugly tree and hit every limb on the way down. No discernible redeeming features on that mug shot I saw.
OMG... seriously? Am I looking at the right pictures: Brooke Hundley? What a beast. Looks more like Todd Hundley!
GenericFan:OMG... seriously? Am I looking at the right pictures: Brooke Hundley? What a beast. Looks more like Todd Hundley!
I still say she's a looker in Phillips' eyes. In terms of talent evaluation, he would think Helen Keller had a great eye at the plate.
Every silver lining has a cloud.In search of truth about Frank McCourt and the Dodgers
Truth and Frank McCourt in the same sentence.
Much like pairing military and intelligence.
Or beaurocratic and efficiency.
Deafening silence.
Academic sorority.
------------------------------------------------------
Instead of dissecting this whole piece, which would take forever and really isn’t necessary, let’s look at a few of McCourt's quotes. That in itself should be sufficient to show the man’s idiocy.
About Wolf and the lack of an arbitration offer:
"I think that the downside wouldn't have been horrible," McCourt said, "because he's a very good pitcher, and he pitched very well for us and he was a model citizen. From the area, really classy young man and so forth. But the judgment was made, and again, judgments are judgments. They're not perfect. No one has a crystal ball.
A very good pitcher + pitched very well in 2009 + model citizen = judgment to let him walk.
With all the good Wolf offered in 2009, one shouldn’t need a crystal ball to see an arbitration offer is a good idea.
"I, by the way, can see both sides of this debate, very, very clearly.”
If Frankie was actually thinking clearly he’d see there is no debate. It was a poor decision. Is now and was then.
”To me this is one really good baseball debate, in terms of 'Do you or don't you.'”
No it’s not. Wolf was a top ten pitcher in the NL and is very consistent as long as he’s healthy, which he’s been the last two seasons. Consistently good too. There should not have been any ‘Do you or don’t you’. You’re wrong Frankie, this is not one really good baseball debate.
”I think, like I was saying before, what would have happened (if we had offered arbitration), maybe Randy Wolf knows, but I don't.”
Then you’re a first class idiot.
The Dodgers would have either had a top of the rotation type pitcher or they would have had two draft picks. What’s so hard to figure out?
”And I don't think the downside would have been bad for the organization, because he's a good pitcher and a good guy, but I think that the judgment was made that we (could) do even better for the club."
And you still stand behind that load of crap?
When your ‘better for the club’ decisions are Vicente Padilla, Russ Ortiz and Ramon Ortiz?!?
Please, don’t insult my intelligence. Even you can’t believe those three are better choices for the 2010 rotation than Randy Wolf.
At least I hope you don’t.
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.About player development:
"I think it's really important that the club invest in the long term," McCourt said. "There's no question about that."
Liar, liar, pants of fire.
At least nothing you’ve done proves that point. You might believe it, but your actions say otherwise.
"That [Camelback Ranch] went from vision to reality in like 15 months," McCourt said, "literally from a napkin to the reality. It was tumbleweeds, flatland and nothing, and now it's considered the single-finest spring training facility in all of baseball. We broke the Cactus League record for attendance in our first year. We're gonna kill it this year because a lot of people didn't even realize it was there ... and we have what is the state-of-the-art development operation there for this organization. So it's really as much [about] our farm system as it is about spring training.
"So that is an example I think of two things. One is execution on vision and finding a way to do that, but two, it's also a way of being resourceful – taking a little bit of heat by the way, [because] there's a lot of people who said 'Don't move from Vero,' and I respected their viewpoint, but it turned out to be the right decision, and the organization is much better off in terms of our development, our ability to meet our goal to have the finest development system in the game by having Camelback Ranch. To me that's much more tangible evidence of our commitment to [development] than not offering Randy Wolf arbitration."
You know what is actual tangible evidence of your ‘commitment’ to development? Spending more money on the amateur draft than you do on lunch!
Give me freakin’ break! You’re going to stand behind Camelback Ranch as your commitment to player development?!?
That is seriously weak.
"Just thinking back over the last six years," he said, "I think that the pressure on the organization has probably been greatest in terms of moving young talent for the quick short-term fix, and I think for the most part we've resisted doing that, and it's paid off in a huge way. The consistency, the success we have on the field is I think directly related to committing to finding and cultivating that young talent, and being patient with that."
You didn’t find that young talent that’s leading the Dodgers right now though, Frank. Kemp, Martin, Loney, Billingsley, Broxton were all drafted before you showed up. You unceremoniously axed the man responsible for rebuilding the team from within. Guess that made it easier for you to take credit for his work though, eh?
And arguably the best young player you did ‘find’ outside of Kershaw, Carlos Santana, you did trade.
So forgive me if I think about as much of your statement as I would one coming from Steve Phillips extolling the virtues of chastity.
About the Carlos Santana trade:
"The Santana trade is an example of ... the pressure to trade players in course of season," McCourt said. "You give up real value for that. Sometimes you're able to -- sometimes it's worth it, sometimes it's not. Sometimes what you give up is less than what you thought it was, sometimes it's more than what you thought it was. There's always pulls and tugs on this."
Carlos Santana is one of the very best prospects in all of baseball. He is patient and powerful at the plate and ever improving behind it. He is compared to Victor Martinez. About all we can say about our return in this deal, Casey Blake, is . . . he once played with Victor Martinez…
Trading Santana was dumb then and looks even worse now. When you have a prospect like Carlos Santana there should be no pulls or tugs. Short of getting Victor Martinez himself in return, you should have never traded Santana. We saw that then (you didn’t) and we still see it now (you still don’t).
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.About the amateur draft and slotting:
"My personal opinion is that in the amateur draft, we do extremely well at living within the system that's in place," McCourt said. "We're one of 30 teams. And even though we're a big-market team, and we could step out and go on our own way and blow through the sort of recommended slotting for each of these, and just go ahead and turn our back on the other 29 clubs and go ahead and pay anything for anybody, I think it's the wrong thing to do philosophically. We’re one of 30 clubs. We should play by an overall understanding that the draft is designed for a reason. It was designed to give teams that didn't do as well the opportunity to sign the best players, if they were smart enough to identify those players, for a certain amount of money.
Am I reading this correctly? Is Frankie actually saying that if they went over slot for a player that they would be the only team in baseball to do that? Is he really using this $&*#@% defense to support how cheap he is?
I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E… He really does think we’re all idiots.
"You talk to baseball, they think the Dodgers are fantastic.:
‘You talk to baseball’?!? What does that even mean?
But you’re right, the Dodgers are fantastic. It’s you that sucks.
”We sign our players, and we generally sign our players within the recommended amount. Now nobody can make us not pay more, but I do believe in the fact that we're part of a league, that the league designed the draft to achieve a certain objective, and I don't believe the Dodgers should be the team that turns that whole system upside down."
Sure is convenient to stand on integrity when it suits your purpose, isn’t it? Problem is, there’s so much more that shows you have no sincere integrity. So all this really amounts to, as my coworker is wont to say, is just so much blowing smoke up our skirts.
You’re not honorable McCourt, you’re disingenuous. You’ve proven that on many an occasion. You don’t break slot because you’re cheap, not because you want to uphold the veracity of Major League Baseball.
About international signings:
"We have to do better in the international arena," he said. "That's to me as much of a function of our ability to actually identify the talent that we want to sign. I think we need to spend more money singing international players and young talent from around the world that we can bring here. Find me the talent, and we'll sign it. But you've got to find the talent. We need to do a better job, and Ned is doing that now. He is now focused on expanding our scouting and the quality of our scouting and the quality of our identifying these types of players."
Sure would be a lot easier to identify that foreign talent if you hadn’t blown up the Dodgers Dominican academy. Sure would be a lot easier to identify that foreign talent if you weren’t busy axing their budget and their scouts.
Not that I believe a word of what you’re saying here anyway. You’re not going to improve in this area. Just another lie; another false hope you’re throwing out there.
McLiar.
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.About why he holds back when many others in MLB break slot routinely:
"Because we're one of 30 teams," McCourt reiterated, "and just like everything else in life, you can't take the amateur draft and pull it out of the context of all the other discussions that you have with the other owners about what's good for the game. The Dodgers can't say, 'Oh yeah, we want your support on this issue, whatever it is, to the other owners, that we think this would be good for the game if we could all agree on Issue X.' And then on Issue Y, they say, 'What we think would be good for the game would be for the big market teams to sort of live up to the spirit -- and the letter, by the way -- of what was agreed upon in terms of the draft and what the purpose of the draft is,' and the Dodgers say, 'On that, we don't want to agree.' You can't just agree on what's good for you and not agree on what's not, if you expect any type of collaboration in the sport.”
I don’t know how Weisman could sit through this BULL S*** without laughing out loud and punching McCourt right in the mouth. I really don’t.
You know when you get so completely pissed off that you can’t even think straight? Well, that’s me right now. This Asshat thinks we’re all morons.
As a follower of Christ, I’m taught not to hate anything but pure evil…. Frankie is getting real close…
"We certainly have the flexibility of making exceptions, and I want to keep that flexibility, but I think as a rule, I want to be credible in the eyes of everybody.”
Too late. All your lying and talking in circles to avoid answering questions straight has eroded any and all credibility you might have had at one time . . . . . . . . when you were 9 months old . . . . . . . . . . . before you could talk…
”It's obviously about winning and the fans -- that's Job No. 1 -- but I also want to be credible overall, because there are things that the Dodgers need and want from time to time, that are good for the Dodgers and our competitive situation, that I want people's support on. And you know how it works in life. It's hard to get support if you haven't been supportive when it matters to other people."
Y’Know, I used to think the stench permeating the entire central valley was from all the dairy farms...
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.About payroll and spending:
"Generally speaking, we do spend at that level just below the Yankees and the Red Sox," McCourt said. "I think our focus has to be on generating additional revenues so that we can spend and compete regularly. I'm not saying we're going to get to the Yankees' level, but I'd certainly like to close the gap."
And generally speaking James Loney’s salary is at the level just below Albert Pujols…
"The Dodgers have had and continue to have very modest ticket prices," McCourt said, "and if you look at where we stand in our ticket prices vs. where we stand in terms of our payroll, you'll see there's a pretty good symmetry there."
But what of the substantial hike in parking fees? Or concession prices?
Half truths, Frank. That’s all that statement is.
Guess I should be happy you at least got half the truth though. That’s an improvement on your norm.
"It's just what it is," he said. "We have do to a better job of creating those connections (between revenue and spending) for our fans, so that they understand that investment in the team and where the money goes, or if there's resistance there, do a better job of finding other streams of revenue to be able to supplement that.
"We're very committed to Dodger Stadium. We're committed to actually doing more at Dodger Stadium, (but) there's no help out here whatsoever in terms of investment in a stadium. It's all done by the owner's checkbook. And it's not like getting the city of New York or the state of New York to build a new stadium, or one of these other cities or whatever. So it all factors in and it's just what it is. These are just facts.
What are the facts?!? That you don’t have enough money to improve Dodger Stadium? Why are we even talking about improvements at Dodger Stadium?
Probably the same reason you tried to justify your commitment to player development by discussing Camelback Ranch.
Spin, spin, and more spin.
”It's not like we can't figure out ways to be resourceful and be very successful with the facts as they are. And I think we have been. And that's why I think we've laid the foundation to achieve the goals I set out when I came here, the first of which is sustainable excellence -- a team worthy of the fans' support that can compete in October on an annual basis -- and that's our goal, to be able to play every October. And then once we do that, we'll be able to start winning in October our fair share of the time, or maybe more than our fair share.”
Sustainable excellence thanks to the work of one Mr. Dan Evans. The man you so callously and unduly fired. Thank you Mr. Evans; You deserve a good portion of the credit for laying this excellent foundation.
Certainly more credit than McCarpetbagger.
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.Thanks, HA. Really good stuff. And man, did McCourt deserve it ...
The mad scientist formerly known as ngross