OFFICIAL 2010 LOS ANGELES DODGERS THREAD [79-82] : The losing season

[ooiron manoo]

That just means he probably will not make the Opening Day roster.  Stults is out of options, they will probably just get cash and a bag of baseballs for Stults.

 

[p mac one]

Originally Posted by ooIRON MANoo

That just means he probably will not make the Opening Day roster.  Stults is out of options, they will probably just get cash and a bag of baseballs for Stults.

Exactly. It would be foolish to give up what would be (I believe) 4+ years of service time for Stults just to keep Ortiz (or Weaver for that matter, even though I love him for how clutch he was last year) on the roster for the year. It's exactly what happened last year, we traded DY for nothing, just to keep Juan Castro on the roster all year.

So yeah, like I said, Ned is a +%+@+$!

 

[cincoseisdos]

Originally Posted by P MAC ONE

Originally Posted by ooIRON MANoo

That just means he probably will not make the Opening Day roster.  Stults is out of options, they will probably just get cash and a bag of baseballs for Stults.

Exactly. It would be foolish to give up what would be (I believe) 4+ years of service time for Stults just to keep Ortiz (or Weaver for that matter, even though I love him for how clutch he was last year) on the roster for the year. It's exactly what happened last year, we traded DY for nothing, just to keep Juan Castro on the roster all year.

So yeah, like I said, Ned is a +%+@+$!

The Hanshin Tigers are looking at three major league pitchers tobolster their rotation, according to a report from Sports Hochi passedalong by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker.  The report lists Jo-Jo Reyes, Eric Stults, and Seth McClung as possibilities.  You may recall that another Japanese club, the Chiba Lotte Marines, has previously shown interest in Stults.

 

[cincoseisdos]

Originally Posted by P MAC ONE

Originally Posted by ooIRON MANoo

That just means he probably will not make the Opening Day roster.  Stults is out of options, they will probably just get cash and a bag of baseballs for Stults.

Exactly. It would be foolish to give up what would be (I believe) 4+ years of service time for Stults just to keep Ortiz (or Weaver for that matter, even though I love him for how clutch he was last year) on the roster for the year. It's exactly what happened last year, we traded DY for nothing, just to keep Juan Castro on the roster all year.

So yeah, like I said, Ned is a +%+@+$!

The Hanshin Tigers are looking at three major league pitchers tobolster their rotation, according to a report from Sports Hochi passedalong by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker.  The report lists Jo-Jo Reyes, Eric Stults, and Seth McClung as possibilities.  You may recall that another Japanese club, the Chiba Lotte Marines, has previously shown interest in Stults.

 

[Los Angeles]

No Belli
Jmac been turrrible
Troncoso ain't lookin too sharp
Cory Wade with Shoulder surgery
Russ Martin with the roid rage injury
Brad Ausmus hurting his back cause he's old
AJ Ellis also injuring himself

This is gonna be fun.

 

[cincoseisdos]

Ronaldo is supposed to finally report on Tuesday right?

 

[sinser13]

hopefully our bats carry us.

 

[cincoseisdos]

http://twitter.com/dylanohernandez

dylanohernandez
  
Eric Gagne was granted his release by the Dodgers.

 

[Los Angeles]

good luck to you gagne, you just don't have anything left

 

[frenchblue23]

Damn, he should have just retired as a Dodger 

 

[in yo nostril]

you can take your "game over" t-shirts to goodwill now

 

[mr jordan04]

http://[h3]

[h3]Belliard's added role[/h3]
2:23PM ET

[h5]Ronnie Belliard | Dodgers [/h5]
Top http:///sendtofriend.espn.go.com/sendtofriend/SendToFriend?URL=http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors#5122&title=Belliard">http://sendtofriend.espn....35122&title=Belliard\'s added role', 'sendtofriend', 'noresizable,noscrollbars,width=345,height=470');return false;" href="http://niketalk.yuku.com/editor/view#">Email


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6497James Loney is still the first baseman in Dodgertown, but manager Joe Torre would feel comfortable giving http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3604Ronnie Belliard some playing time at the position this season, writes Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Belliard has 57 career appearances at first base, making him the only utility infielder the Dodgers have in camp with significant experience there.

Loney might sit versus some southpaws, despite showing promising splits in 2009. That's because Belliard should still be able to provide more. He posted an .842 OPS versus LHP in 2009 versus Loney's .779.
That said, Loney still offers more production than http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5349http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5349Jamey Carroll versus lefties, if 2009 is any indication, and Carroll is the likely fill-in for Belliard at second base if he's playing another position.

[/h3]

 
http://[h3]

[h3]Rotation check: Dodgers[/h3]
4:29PM ET

[h5]Los Angeles Dodgers [/h5]
Top http:///sendtofriend.espn.go.com/sendtofriend/SendToFriend?URL=http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors#5123&title=Rotation check: Dodgers">http://sendtofriend.espn....ation check: Dodgers', 'sendtofriend', 'noresizable,noscrollbars,width=345,height=470');return false;" href="http://niketalk.yuku.com/editor/view#">Email


The Dodgers may be down an option for their No. 5 starter role as right-hander James McDonald has struggled mightily this spring, allowing 12 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Left-hander Scott Elbert has struggled, too, leaving Charlie Haeger and veterans Ramon and Russ Ortiz as the most likely options.

Eric Stults, once though to be one of the frontrunners, has been inconsistent (3ER in 5ip, but 4 walks) and to make the problem even worse -- and the decision more difficult -- Stults and Haeger are out of options.

Ramon Ortiz has easily had the best showing thus far, fanning 17 in 13 innings and allowing just14 baserunners. McDonald appears to be headed back to Triple-A while the Dodgers decide between exposing Haeger and Stults to waivers, finding a spot for them in the bullpen and which Ortiz makes the club.

[/h3]

 

[Los Angeles]

[h1]http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/03/dodgers-shopping-stults-hu.html[/h1]

[h1]Dodgers Shopping Stults, Hu[/h1]
By Zach Links [March 23 at 5:25pm CST]

The Dodgers are looking to move pitcher Eric Stults and shortstop Chin-lung Hu, baseball officials from the NL and AL tell Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).

Los Angeles may feel that Stults is now expendable as they have multiple candidates for the final spot in their rotation.  Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse tweets that Ramon Ortiz is the top candidate, even though some within the organization feel that Josh Lindblom should be the fifth starter.  Yesterday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com wrote that the aforementioned Ramon Ortiz, Rule 5 selection Carlos Monasterios, Charlie Haeger, Russ Ortiz, and Josh Towers were all in the mix for the job.  Mike Axisa recently summed up this proverbial game of musical chairs in one handy post.

Meanwhile, if the Dodgers are unable to find a taker in the majors for Stults, they could find a suitor overseas.  The 30-year-old hurler has previously been linked to the Chiba Lotta Marines and earlier this week, he was named as a possible target of the Hanshin Tigers.


The Dodgers are a couple years late trying to trade Hu

 

[ooiron manoo]

While I don't agree with PMAC about Stults, since there is no point about being upset about Eric Stults being traded for a bag of baseballs.

They knew there was no place for Hu in the organization when they signed Furcal.  They let his value diminish to the point of getting nothing in return.  Same with DY.  Everyone knew of DY's defensive deficiencies, but he is talented at the plate.  They should've traded both  while their value was high.

IMO, Eric Stults never really had any value to begin with.  He was up and down throughout his career with the Dodgers.  He would have a game that makes you go

, then a string of uneventful games  and games that made you go

.  He's had chances to lock up a rotation spot, he just doesn't have the "stuff" to give him a long term spot in the rotation.

 

[mr jordan04]

Is GA gonna wear #16 if he makes the team?

 

[Los Angeles]

I'd be pleased with a bag of baseballs for Eric Stults, throw in a free parking pass at the Ravine and I'd send him on his way.

& GA isn't going to wear #16 - they've talked about it during spring training games on how they've invested so much $$$ on Ethier memorabilia, it just wouldn't make sense.

 

[in yo nostril]

im shocked that GA is doing so well.

off topic but does anyone know a store where i can get a size 40 kobe jersey at? like in person so i can try it on. i try to stay away from the laker threads on here.

 

[mr jordan04]

Size 40? You a ******?

 

[Los Angeles]

He is.

 

[Los Angeles]

He is.

 

[cincoseisdos]

This just surfaced in the NT Pic thread

I haven't seen this in AGES

 

[in yo nostril]

im 5'9 douchebags. just trying to find one that fits and doesnt hang to my knees

 

[sinser13]

[h2][/h2]

[h2]Martin progressing quickly[/h2]

http://search.espn.go.com/tony-jackson/

PHOENIX -- Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin, who originally was estimated to be out four to six weeks with a right groin strain, will catch in a minor league spring training game on Thursday, a significant step in his rehabilitation and a strong indication he might make it back in time for Opening Day after all. 

Groin injuries are notoriously unpredictable. Dodgers trainer Stan Conte has said repeatedly since the injury that Martin might progress rapidly and then hit a plateau.

"He has done a lot of running, but running in a game will be different,'' manager Joe Torre said. "All of a sudden, it's ratcheted up a little more as far as energy. But he was champing today. He came into my office with a bat in his hand. He feels good, and that is a good sign.''

A big element of whether Martin is ready for the April 5 opener at Pittsburgh is how many at-bats he can get between now and then.

"I never thought about him being ready for Opening Day, but we'll see how the next couple of days go and see if it's realistic,'' Torre said.

Left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo underwent a precautionary MRI that showed no new elbow damage, and he is expected to return to action in a few days. Kuo, who has had several elbow surgeries while he was still in the minors, experienced mild discomfort the day after the most recent of his two Cactus League appearances Friday night against San Diego.

Kuo played soft toss at Camelback Ranch after the MRI and said everything was fine and he was ready to go.

"With all the stuff he has had, I'm not going to say there was nothing" on the MRI, Torre said. "Just to give you some background, he pitched, and he came off the field feeling fine, but the next day wasn't as good. The day after that, he felt fine again. But we weren't going to let him throw, and Stan said let's do the MRI.''

 

[mr jordan04]

 kuo has something wrong with his elbow/arm in a weekly basis

 

[sinser13]

[h1]McCourt: "A Mercenary Team Doesn't Work"[/h1]
By Mark Polishuk [March 24 at 7:29pm CST]

Dodgers fans aren't pleased that their team's major offseason story has been the ongoing divorce and ownership battle between Frank and Jamie McCourt.  With the stewardship of the team in doubt, the Dodgers made relatively few moves over the winter, none of which seemed to be the type of key addition that would push the two-time NLCS runners-up into the World Series.

Frank McCourt discussed his team's offseason moves and his overall philosophy for the team at a meeting of California businessmen on Tuesday, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.  He reiterated his claim of sole ownership in the franchise and said that "things will get back to normal" once the divorce suit is settled, noting that the team is not for sale.

Shaikin cites the midseason deals of C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Cliff Lee over the last two seasons, plus the Roy Halladay rumors that dominated last summer's trade deadline, as cases where the Dodgers simply weren't willing to deal their young core players for what might have been a short-term rental.  In McCourt's defense, L.A. has certainly made some big in-season moves (the Manny Ramirez, Jon Garland and Jim Thome deals, for example), and the owner himself pointed to the team's four playoff appearances since he took over the team.

McCourt rhetorically asked, "How would we feel right now withoutClayton Kershaw or Matt Kemp?" since those two and Chad Billingsley were at the top of any potential trade partner's wish list.  Shaikin notes that these young players are key to McCourt's belief that fans would rather see a team of homegrown stars win a title than a group of free agent imports.  "A mercenary team doesn't work," McCourt said in reference to the big dollars spend by L.A.'s previous owners (News Corp) that never resulted in any playoff appearances.

Every contender struggles with the temptation to go for broke and shoot for a World Series by selling off a young prospect or two at the deadline.  Red Sox fans would've no doubt loved to see Hanley Ramirez play shortstop at Fenway Park for 15-plus years, but since his trade to Florida brought Mike Lowell, Josh Beckett and the 2007 World Series to Boston, Sox fans are probably satisfied that losing Ramirez was worth it.  In McCourt's case, however, the fact that the Dodgers have come so close the last two seasons leaves the team's decisions open to second-guessing.  And, as Shaikin points out, big-market L.A.'s payroll could be less than $90MM this season, leaving fans wondering why the team couldn't shell out a few extra dollars for the final piece of the championship puzzle.

WEDNESDAY, 10:01pm: MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports that the Dodgers aren't trying to deal Hu, since they need him in case something happens to Rafael Furcal.  Gurnick also notes that L.A. is shopping Jason Repko, who has nowhere to play in the crowded Dodger outfield.