One last post for this decade…
As promised, here’s a quick look back at some of the highlights from 2009. As always, my glass is half full…just creating this list gave me a pretty good feeling about the year we just completed on the heels of an equally special 2008.
– Orlando Hudson and Randy Wolf sign as free agents, bolstering the team late in the offseason while becoming an All-Star and a very consistent starter, respectively (and effectively replacing the departed Derek Lowe and Jeff Kent)
– Camelback Ranch opens in Glendale and thousands of Dodger fans experience Spring Training for the first time
– “I’m baaack.” Manny Ramirez signs back with the Dodgers following an eventful offseason of negotiating
– The World Baseball Classic provides arguably one of the great games ever played at Dodger Stadium, with Japan defeating Korea in the championship game filled with drama on a whole new level
– Orlando Hudson’s cycle was the first by a Dodger in nearly 40 years and first-ever at Dodger Stadium…and it happened on Opening Day
– Dodgers set the MLB record for wins to start a season at home…at times people wondered if we’d ever lose a game at Dodger Stadium
– Juan Pierre plays incredibly well while Manny is suspended and the fans show their appreciation for his efforts with a heartfelt standing ovation in his first game back after Manny returns
– Billingsley and Broxton have All-Star first halves to join Hudson in St. Louis
– Manny’s pinch-hit grand-slam on his own Bobblehead Night!
– Ethier’s six walk-off hits and eventual Cluth Performer of the Year Award
– Joe Pierre makes a visit to Dodger Stadium for the inaugural Inside the Dodgers tour…a trip he’ll likely never forget. All thanks to the efforts of those on this blog who brought his situation to the attention of the team
– Trade deadline deals for Garland, Belliard, Thome and Padilla solidify the team with the best record in the NL
– Kershaw among the league leaders in ERA
– Capturing back-to-back NL West championships for the first time in three decades
– Loretta’s pinch-hit sends Dodger Stadium into pandemonium
– Sweeping the Cards en route to consecutive NLCS appearances for the first time since 1977-78
– Gold Glove and Silver Slugger for Matt Kemp, while Ethier takes home the Silver Slugger
And those are just the ones I could think of off the top of my head while typing this. It’s been a great year and despite some surprises, setbacks and disappointments, that’s a heck of a lot to be excited about. Hopefully many of you got the chance to take part in some of these events and there will surely be many great ones ahead, too, in 2010.
Ken Gurnick broke the year down month by month in addition to a video recap for those so inclined but as this decade comes to a close, all of us at the Dodgers — from ownership, to management, to the front office and every usher, ticket taker and maintenance worker — wish all of you, your families and friends a healthy and happy 2010. Let’s hope it concludes with a parade in the streets of Los Angeles like we haven’t seen in 20+ years.
Inside the Dodgers 
Thanks again Josh and crew……From the O-Dogs Cycle to the last pitch thrown for the season, it was exciting. I am grateful to call L.A. my home, wherever I may be!
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Here’s to 2010 and the Dodgers!!!!
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Cheer’s All!!!
Thanks Josh.
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As you all go out or, perhaps stay home to celebrate the New Year, just remember this one fact: Every year, in the United States, there are more than 40,000 toilet related injuries .
LMAO!!!! That was good tru 🙂
Thanks, Dodger4life 🙂
Isn’t it funny, trublu how Frank and Jamie bring toilets to mind.
Happy New Year all ITD’ers. May we all have some laughs and some good Dodger baseball in the New Year. If we’re really lucky, maybe a new ownership!
Happy New Year to all the unique, humorous, thought provoking, and wonderful souls that reside here on ITD. And, with all apologies to Col. Sherman T. Potter: “May 2010 be a damn sight better than the last one and bring us peace”.
Sending Happy New Year greetings to all the blogmates here on ITD. May our new year be happy, healthy and prosperous 🙂 And since we have a blue moon tonight, let’s all have a Dodger Blue Year, too!!
Feliz Ano nuevo ITD Blogmates!
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sparkleplenty: Thanks for reminding us of your term blogmates!
A prayer for a peace around the world an a cure for dreadful diseases.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
Jamie……]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]\
Good Morning everybody. Happy January 1st. Very interesting reading on our home page today.
Happy Hew Year everybody!
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Is anyone out there watching the Outback Bowl? Yikes!!
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Northwestern has like 9 lives….
You are absolutely right Josh, I will never forget it for the rest of my life, thanks again to everybody, who made it happen and have a very Happy New Year.
Joe Pierre
There is, indeed, lots of food for thought on the home page, tru. Comebacks will be necessary from Martin, Furcal, and Manny if we want to grab the brass ring in 2010. Time will tell if Manny has anything left in the tank but, if he does, we will be the beneficiaries. He will have to put up numbers as big as Dolly’s if he and Boreass want one last big payoff….. I’m less concerned about DeWitt’s defense than whether he will hit enough. If he hits .270 to .280 with modest power, that will be sufficient to keep Carroll as a super sub…. From their prospective, Kemp and Stewart are playing the contract game just right. The D’s ownership situation is uncertain and the sky’s the limit for him right now.Unless the D’s make an offer they can’t refuse, which will probably not happen, they can afford to play the waiting game…. Considering the source, it’s not surprising that the one question they didn’t pose is what effect the Dodgers’ financial situation will have on their ability to put a championship team on the field. Although,oftentimes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, we will have a much better picture after the Hot Stove League concludes…..At this point, The Rose Bowl promises to unfold to an exciting conclusion.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!! Go Buckeyes!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to your Buckeyes Jhall!!!!! Just Fabulous!!!
Enchanted – It was an absolute pleasure!!!
Dodgereric – Fabulous time as always!!!
Hey!! There you are!!! I wasn’t expecting to see you Jhall. It was a fabulous game we just got done watching, and guess who I had in the room with me……………………….Ward Dear (Dad/Chevelle), Dodger4life, tru, and…………………………………Beav. Okay, now we have got to get you out here some day so the entire Cleaver Family can be together.
Actually, as of right now…………………..Enchanted and Dodgereric are on there way home, and hoping Dodgereric gets through all the Rose Bowl traffic without much trouble, but like always, he has all his routes figured out if necessary to avoid the traffic. Nothing like a bunch of drivers from Ohio and Oregon hitting the highways of Southern California – lol!!!! (jk)
Thanks Nell!!! Very sweet!!! I’m happy that you are all having a great time. Tell Dad hey for me. Excelsior True Believers!!!!!!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s Jhall!!! I am sure the win today finished it off well.
Even though I am a Pac-10 fan, I am glad your Buckeyes won, Jhall. Oregon is my least favorite team. And, Happy New Year to you!
And, it was a pleasure to finally meet you, Enchanted 🙂
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As Nellyjune said, Jhall, we must get you out here too!
With all the dealings in MLB so far, I’m impressed with nothing. Dodgers will kick some serious a** in 2010. Pac 10 can hang it’s collective beaten head on the winning shoulders of UCLA and USC.
Good Morning ITDland ~ Hope everybody is well today.
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Do snakes suffer from reptile disfunction?
There are three signs of old age. The first is loss of memory. I forget the other two.
Well, around here the imagination and wit sure can’t be one of them. We have plenty of that on ITD to go around.
Kahli – I am okay with not doing anything for now. I am anxious to know how are boys in arbitration are being handled. I still think that will tell us alot about what is going on with our owners.
red pen – “our boys” not “are”
Did anyone notice that Andre was the “spokesperson” for ASU during a Pac-10 infomercial during the Rose Bowl game yesterday? He sure looked good 🙂
When does Andre not look good? LOL!!!! Even when he’s mad, he looks good. I know…………………what will I do if he’s not a Dodger? It will be very, very hard for a while.
No, I didn’t notice. I was watching the game, but was too involved in conversation and wasn’t paying attention to details, and if my son or hubby had seen it (they were paying attention the most), they certainly wouldn’t have told me – LOL!!! I hope you had a great New Year’s and everything is going well with you Sparkleplenty.
Reportedly, Dolly Parton has her breasts insured for $600,000.
Betcha when Dolly gets a chest cold it damn near kills her.
Does Dolly always walk two abreast?
Nice finally meeting you too TruMom and Nells!!… and D4 and Eric too!!!
LOL, Enchanted!
LOL!!!! That was good enchanted :))
I was reading the comments on the homepage article about the 10 questions the Dodgers have for 2010. I know many of us are not happy with Manny, Messagebear and I, being two of them, but I certainly wouldn’t think we would be better off with JP in left field. These people commenting on there obviously are not aware of how unhappy JP was this time last year, and if he were still with us, he wouldn’t be any different, nor would we. I couldn’t be happier for JP and us. We both got what we wanted. Having said that, it sure will be interesting reading Inside the White Sox since they have both JP and Andruw this season. As for Manny, I think Andre and Matt (and even James and Russell to a point) will be the center of the team whether Manny does well or not. Manny knows what he has to do to get a contract next year, so I would assume he will do everything in his power to get that new contact. If it happens that Manny really doesn’t have the legs, then I have all the faith that our young core will be there anyway. Our dynamic duo will be just as feared as Manny this upcoming season would be my prediction. I think pitching is going to be our single biggest “on the field” issue, and it is certainly an unknown one at that……….not knowing how Kuroda, Billz and Kershaw will come into the 2010 season, along with the rest of the bullpen.
Fun story about Alabama’s quarterback being a huge Dodgers fan. His favorite current player is Ethier. His father worked for the McCourts, but he is now working for the Dallas Cowboys.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-greg-mcelroy3-2010jan03,0,2319074.story
Very fine summary, nelly. I couldn’t agree more.
I’m pretty much resigned to the fact that we won’t do anything meanigful in terms of additions to the team from the outside, and under the circumstances I’ll accept that. Might as well find out what we can do from within our own system. The “cheap” approach however is not going to cut it with me when we deal with arbitration for the two guys who have really proved their worth – meaning Matt and Andre. My approach would be to take whatever offer numbers Ng comes up with through her normal arbitration calculations, and add a million or two to make sure that we not only get a quick settlement, but that we preserve a happy attitude for this year and for their future dealings with the Dodgers. I already see that Matt isn’t interested in doing a multi-year deal, and I don’t blame him with this uncertain ownership that spells nothing but CHEAP. It would be such a shame to have to watch these two fabulous young guys play their peak years for somebody else, but I’m afraid that’s where we’re headed if Frank, Mannion, and Ned don’t get their collective heads out of their stinking butts.
Good Morning ~ Well said Nellyjune and Bear. You have both expressed exactly how most of us feel.
Well said Nelly and bear…..
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Enchanted the pleasure was all mine, it was great to meet the man behind the humor.
Why thank you Messagebear. After many conversations with Dodgereric and others on this topic, I am now sold on the fact that long-term contracts for our young players are not in their best interest. However, like you said, now it’s time for our ownership to make our young talent’s value to this team known. Even if Andre and/or Matt happens to fall back a tad from what they did in 2009 (which I doubt will happen), it is still worth it to pay them what is so very much deserved now. The ownership needs to show the young core that yes, we have been preaching you are the future and now it’s time to show it. If the ownership cheaps on them now, I predict they all walk when they get their first chance. They may not have Borasss on their side, but I am assuming they are being well taken care of on their end and Frank and Company better not screw this up.
Thanks to you too, tru and Dodger4life!!!
Good evening ITD boys and girls!
I seem to be missing everyone! The last couple of times I signed on and no one was around. Oh well. I guess that’s what happens when you (meaning me) don’t sign on very often. Hopefully there will be someone for me to talk to! 🙂
Nelly – I read your assessment, and you got it spot on girl. I forgot until I read your summary that the White Sox have both JP and Andruw. It would be interesting if one or the other ended up fighting for a starting spot in the outfield. Deja vu, huh. If JP was still a Dodger, he wouldn’t be any happier than he was before. And yes, SP is STILL a big concern – as it has been for each of the last several years. Billz and Kersh REALLY have to grow up a lot in 2010. And I think they will. And Kuroda-san needs to stay healthy; it’s his contract year I believe. Only time will tell who we get to fill out the rest of the rotation. I know that the Gnats have better SP than us, but they did last year too, and that wasn’t enough to even take the wild card, much less the division. I don’t think much will change there. I could be wrong, but I still don’t think they added enough offense. But the hot stove is still not done yet. Actually, I think the NL West will be more competitive – I think both AZ and SD will be better than they were last year. CO and SF? I still pick CO before SF with LA on top. My end-of-season prediction for the NL West standings: 1. Dodgers, 2. CO/AZ, 3. CO/AZ, 4. SD, 5. SF.
It’s late and my looooong, long post got lost in cyberspace and I’m kinda sick about it. But I didn’t want to go to bed until I thanked Junie once more for her marvelous hospitality and the remarkable opportunity to meet the fabulous enchantedsunset. Sir, it’s nice to know that the man stands up to the legend. Trumom and D4, it’s always nice to renew our acquaintences, and that was one of the nicest New Years Eve parties I’ve been at for some time!
Now just a quick two cents on OUR Dodger team. My own biggest fear is not that we get anyone worth a damn this winter or spring or summer. It’s not whether or not we win the division or are even competitive. It’s whether or not our players will stay once they finish their arbitration years and are Free Agents. And I fear that they will NOT stay if the McCourts (either one or both) are still the owner(s).
Sell the team. Please.
Happy New Year, my ITD friends!
Hey CP!!!! I am quite sure you are in bed, but I just wanted to check in and say “hi”. If your season ending prediction is right, this Dodger fan will be one happy camper. I am not too sure about the gnats sitting in the cellar at the end, but that would just be fine with me if it happened that way.
Dodgereric – you are most welcome and it’s always a pleasure having you, Chris and Matt around. It makes it real easy to be hospitable when you are doing it for such wonderful people like yourselves. Sorry you lost your post to cyberspace again. I know how aggravating that is for you. However, what you did say hit the nail on the head. It’s not about anything having to do with this season or even the next, it’s the future that is at stake, and it is the future that needs to be taken care of now. We both have to work tomorrow after having the last two weeks off. Try to have a good Monday back. It will be hard, but we will make it no doubts. Take Care and God Bless to you and your wonderful family 🙂
Good Morning ITDland ~ great to see you here CP and Dodgereric. It’s much more fun when you are here:)
Good morning ITD boys and girls!
Yeah Nelly, I was in bed at 1:36 AM!!! 🙂 Actually, I didn’t think SF would be in the cellar, but I really didn’t know. I just really thought that AZ and SD were going to improve over last year, but I like AZ’s pitching better than SD’s. I thought CO would always be “right there” so that’s why I switched between AZ & CO. I still think the NL West is going to be a lot more competitive in 2010 than 2009 and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if there are only less than 10 games separating first from last place.
Hello “Dodgers”, my old friend
Will you ever speak once again?
With Glendale slowly creeping
Fallow fields where once was granted
The robust crop last decade planted
Pre-McCourt’s reign still remain
Within the sound of silence.
In restless night, I search alone
Steer clear of the TMZ zone
The Halo’s shadow casting long
Eclipsing thoughts that once belonged
When my hopes were stabbed by the flash
Of the divorce, tabloid sports
Nurture the sound of silence.
And in the void there I saw
3,000,000 people, likely more
People laughing without thinking
People cheering without listening
People singing songs that bloggers
never dared, and still I stared
Admired the sounds of silence.
“Fools,” said some, “You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Read my words, let them pervert you
Your Blue-blood loves will soon desert you”
But their words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence.
And the people bowed and prayed
To the Blue heroes that they made
And the pundits were still warning
Of that behind the curtain, forming,
They said “The will of the people is given
In the turnstiles and torn tickets
Never in the sound of silence”
Superb, Northstateblues!
Just fabulous Northstateblues!!!!
Great job NSB! I keep on telling myself that I need to post a parody; it’s been TOO long!
?Rihanna and Matt are starting to get serious ? he even followed her to Dubai for New Year’s,” a source told the website. “Rihanna likes him because he?s such a gentleman ? and super sexy!?
Sorry girls. Now you know how the girls of my generation felt when the Fab Four started to pair off.
Let’s hope that Matty doesn’t “do too much” to try and impress his new girl. But then again, Carrie Underwood just got engaged with Mike Fisher – who’s that now? Mike Fisher wears #12 for NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
So how are my ITD friends this fine evening?
Okay, I’m being time warped! This thing is STILL going on???
Sexy girlfriends make playing sports very difficult….just ask Tony Romo when he was dating Jessica!
I think a player tries too hard when he has a girlfriend to impress.
Good Evening All….
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Great Job North!!!
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Tru Joe Montana is still married to the Schick girl, then there was Broadway Joe also and Joltin Joe, so maybe its okay if your name is Joe……
Happy New Year D4! How ya doing?
Happy New Year CP….I am doing good. You??
I’m doing good. Now I read Nelly’s posts about y’all meeting up with our very own Enchanted? How did this happen? Some day I need to meet this man of mystery (he is still a mystery to me!) I don’t know if you or anyone noticed a couple of days ago, but me, my husband and my mom are going to Camelback this year! Yeah! Can’t wait! I’m even looking at Andre’s old blog to catch up on some ST eateries! I wish he would start his blog back up again!
“Martin credits (model/girlfriend) Marikym (Hervieux) with helping him take a calmer, more relaxed approach to the season. He says that part of what’s helped is settling down with a steady girlfriend. When asked if he was ready to have children with Marikym, he admits that they’re not ready yet, but ?We are practicing a lot.?”
I liked Martin’s game better when he was a carousing party animal!
Memo to Ned: Through no fault of our own, you’ve reduced ITD to a gossip cesspool. Tiger…Dolly…Rhianna… How about getting a pitcher already? It’s 2010!!!!!
You would have to ask Nelly…..I think he (enchanted) moved to the area, and since DodgerEric and his wife, were coming for New Years, they just decided to get together? I did see that, good for you. I remember Collie having a very good knowledge of places to eat in the area as well. You will have plent of fun I am sure. He may be able to help you. Andre is still topping the charts with his last post….LOL!!!!!
LOL!!! Khali!!!
Oh, so Enchanted isn’t in NM anymore. Now that you mention it, I do seem to remember some posts where Enchanted said that he was moving to the area. We’re looking forward to ST; especially my mom and I.
Well, I’m starting to get tired – gotta turn in. Goodnight!
Good Night CP….
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Khali times are tough man…..I am sure someone will call Ned sooner or later looking for a job.
Hey CP!!!!! Enchanted is up in the Sierra’s (Mariposa area), a little over an hour away from us ITDers in the Central Valley. He is just fabulous as you would expect. I am soooo happy you get to go to Camelback Ranch. That will be just awesome.
Good Night CP!!! Sorry I missed you again.
Two frickin’ posts all day and submission errors for a half hour.
Kahli – Maybe Russell is just a tad too relaxed IMO. Our new acronym should be ITDGR (Inside the Dodgers Gossip Ring), which can be viewed in ITDFST (35 minutes ahead of PST)
http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=ulink&fn=Link&ssid=10573&id=3pg51z9e7n84j8rq418a1bbo7qw9x&id2=5e2n9jwbmx838nz26onqxy5lh7njc&subscriber_id=akwbqsngqagmfafkdentjimkshfrbgk&delivery_id=awlqgtlyslquhflhxsmkhucjuanhbpj
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/313679-the-dodgers-dry-spell
Another article from Bleacher Report………………”dry spell” – no kidding!!!!
OMG! My friend LovetheDodgers23 just texted me that Angle’s announcer Rory Markas was found dead in his home in Palmdale. Rest in peace Rory..
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
In response to the recent photo of Matt and Rihanna…..
Bud Selig has scheduled a press conference to assure Chris Brown fans that Rihanna is indeed in very good hands.
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My condolences to the Markas family.
Come on Stevie you are only scratching the surface, with a little positive reinforcement I know you can do better….here are some bullet points. And I encourage you to dig even deeper, cause when you do it only gets worse. I mean man I go back to trading Edwin Jackson for garbage as MY tipping point. lol
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Deferred more than $45 million in player salaries, most of that with Manny Ramirez
* Traded top prospects in lieu of picking up contracts
* Declined to bid on virtually every top free agent
* Declined to bid on top international prospects
* Spent fewer dollars than any other club in the last two drafts
* Delayed playoff ticket refunds this year
* Fired more than a dozen employees
* Didn’t re-invest $19 million from the Jason Schmidt insurance payment and the Manny Ramirez suspension into baseball operations
* Deferred renovations to the loge and reserve levels, beyond center field and in the clubhouses
Wow. The “last post for this decade” is astonsihing. I guess I was wrong that the Dodgers fell apart near the end of the year, largely do to our starting pitching. I was wrong that we got schooled by the Phillies for the second year in a row in the NLCS because their starting pitching is so much better than ours (while our bullpen was better). I must have also missed eveything Coletti has done to fix our pitching problem. No I didn’t. Out starting pitching is now worse than it has been for years. Ethier and Kemp had breakout seasons (and probably are just waiting until they can be free agents and sign a long term deal with a team that wants to win, as opposed to a team that goes dumpster diving). Martin’s offense got worse again. Manny showed his age without roids (let’s hope that with a full spring training, he’ll get at least his timing back, if not his power). Kershaw showed nice development. He shows signs of brilliance at times. Billingsley has had problems in the second half of each of the last two seasons and hasn’t shown the mental toughness to handle the pressure of the playoffs, but he can still fill a roll on the pitching staff. Our owner is satisfied with winning a weak division (which is not assured in the next year) and getting embarassed in the NLCS, because they get all that extra playoff money. Until this attitude is changed, the Dodgers will continue to falter.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp%3Fymd%3D20100104%26content_id%3D7873404%26vkey%3Dnews_mlb%26fext%3D.jsp%26c_id%3Dmlb&ct=ga&cd=TjD5cAg3kjc&usg=AFQjCNEUhDXDwHUWSCg2za8xvt88BAEcLQ
My Dodgers Nation has reported: “Sad, but true. The biggest offseason acquisition for the Dodgers so far is Matt Kemp acquiring Rhianna.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34708966/ns/entertainment-access_hollywood/
RIP Rory Markas
I still can’t believe the dback got Johnson poor Abreu.
Can’t wait for the first post of the decade!
Now I know why Matt Kemp is listed as a number one search on Yahoo’s home page. I usually do not pay attention to this sort of stuff and don’t intend to start. Let’s just say I hope Matt knows what he is doing and he focuses on baseball when the time comes.
And as to the article about arbitration, please spare me the sentiments. Isn’t this process something the player’s union won in a long ago negotiation? Correct me if I am wrong but has the player’s union asked to have this process changed? Actually, the system probably does serve a purpose as a stimulus to get a deal done prior to the hearing as both sides realize what is going to happen and don’t really want to subject themselves to it.
Good post birk…..I am eagerly awaiting that first post myself.
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What would you like the first post of the new decade to say….Sky’s the limit?
Jungar snuck in again with another fabuous post to add to stevie’s great post.
lbirken – always worth the two cents to know what you are thinking.
Howdy, lbirken! You’re right of course regarding arbitration. It’s a necessary evil that both sides have agreed to in order to avoid the even uglier holdout scenario.
As far as Josh’s optimistic thread, hey, its first sentence identifies it as the “highlights” of the season. We’ve spent incalculable hours going over the lowlights, and how they continue. I’m always amazed at some of us who can’t figure out why he accentuates the positive here. It’s the Dodgers’ own blog and he’s a Dodger employee who probably would like to remain one.
Now, if you’d like some absolutely perfect winter reading for a baseball fan, here’s a fine discussion of the Hall of Fame vs the Hall of Merit (read it and find out).
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/12/29/hall.of.merit/index.html
Very true…….very true
Very interesting reading, Dodgereric.
Not quite sure what I would like Josh’s first post of the decade to say but I can guess what many here would like it to say. Seriously, as long as things are a bit quiet on the player situations I wouldn’t mind hearing from the equipment manager giving a brief post about getting ready for spring training and the season or from any Dodger employee talking about his or her job within the organization.
Interesting stuff about the “Hall of Merit” but kind of deep at the same time. I agree that each fan has his or her own idea of what makes up a hall of fame player but I would like to comment on a player who I think deserves consideration of the hall of merit: Maury Wills. No, he did not have a stellar career if you just look at stats but if you look at the impact he had on the game, I think he deserves some attention. I understand this kind of thinking could be difficult for those who never saw him play and I admit I am biased because he is one of my all time favorite Dodger players. Maury himself once suggested there should be room in the Hall to honor players who made significant contributions to the game but might not really qualify for inclusion as a regular Hall of Famer. As someone once said, The Hall is for the greatest players, not the goods ones.
I perused the article first. I have learned to do that when Dodgereric gives a reading assignment. I am very intrigued, but it is one I will have to have more time to read (when I get home), and I will probably have to take notes, as I do not have a memory like he does. It looks very fascinating. It will be sure to bring up some good discussion for a change.
My sky’s the limit comment came out wrong…..I was trying to say, if you were writing the first post what would your’s contain. I glanced over that article DogerEric need to take a little more time to better absorb the info though. Looks good!
I was hoping it was Kemp signed a 5 years extension. Wow Holliday 7 yrs for 120 millions.
And, Pujols is going to be a Yankee when his contract with the Cardinals ends.
Lbirken, I am sure we will get some insight as to spring training. I would like to hear that we are going to get more for our money, either in an on field improvement (of quality) or in less expensive means of enjoyment of the team. I understand that this club has achieved success as of late, attribute that to whom you may. You must give the fans and patrons of this club credit as well. It is our dollars that generate the success of everyone from Frank to the parking attendent. It is us who generate the noise levels at the optimum time during a game. It is us who come back faithfully year in and year out. We should see some benefits bestowed upon us in the way we can enjoy this game and this team. I do not want to hear that we have owners fighting over Net Jet services being billed to the team a the team is losing money. I do not want to hear that the owners are dining on expensive meals on the Dodgers dime as the club loses money. Heck in a year that seen the likes of the World Baseball Classic at our doorstep, I don’t want to hear we are losing money. I am just stating what is wrong in my mind. I do not want to hear that we can’t or wont offer arbitration to our free agents. I do not want to hear that our owner is broke one day and spending millions the next. I do not want to hear that we can’t offer long term contracts to our youngster’s especially the ones who have 5 tool talent. If you are willing to go long term, you have already made a commitment, I don’t want to hear that the commitment was more than you were willing to consider. I do not want to hear we were pursuing Sabathia, we were pursuing Halladay, we were pursuing Lee…. I want to hear we did what it took to get things done. And less of these are challanging times. I want to hear some excitement in the offseason that is generated by the leaders of this team, I want to be anxiously awaiting the day we take the field, not because i am tired of the shanangans that took place in the off season but because of the wisdom that brought forth hope.
That’s it Dodger4life….the first item Josh should talk about for the new year, is the ITD Tour!
Oops, time warped you! lol
I would love to hear that we will improve the ITD tour this year…..that was a major highlight for many fans last year. I do hope this will continue in the future.
Another slow day in Dodgerland. Sad to see the Big Unit retire. Not sure why?!?!?! Maybe I’m feeling my age tonight. Holliday’s contract is a joke that will haunt the Cards for many moons. In some ways the whole McCourt fiasco may have saved the Dodgers from Ned’s free-agent mishandlings. A lot of REALLY crazy, stupid contracts out there this winter for mediocre talent. Can you imagine if Ned had been given a full wallet?
“Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile,
Nothin’ left to do but smile, smile, smile!!!!”
Khali, when you said Cat…this came to mind.
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http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PK/159F~Cat-in-the-Hat-Posters.jpg
Beautiful D4…kind of looks like the Dodger front office……..
Where is enchanted with our bedtime story??
That contract for Holliday is just absurd. There is alot of truth to what you are saying Kahli. As hard as it is sitting around watching other teams get things done, maybe silence is a good thing when it comes to the Dodgers at this point.
On an NFL note and being a Redskins fan, I am kind of exciting about having Shanahan as our new coach.
Dodger4life – fabulous post earlier this afternoon, and as for the picture, I have felt like that these last two days.
Now that I have read Dodgereric’s reading assignment, I can comment to a degree anyway. Before reading and writing on ITD, I didn’t know much about the history of the MLB. I knew about the players who were on the top of their game and were famous as well. The article made me think,”Do I know that player because of how well he played baseball or because of his fame in playing baseball?” A very intriguing question for me and one I will definitely think about as the names come up for consideration in the future. I like to think of myself as a new and learning baseball historian. I haven’t read a baseball history book in a while, but I have read many Dodger history books in the past year, and just with our team alone, my historical knowledge has grown tremendously compared to three years ago when I first began reading ITD. So, like is mentioned in the article, I would be the one who wouldn’t know most of the players on either list. Not that I didn’t learn anything when I was in Cooperstown 4/5 years ago, I certainly did, but if I had known even a quarter of the history I know now, it would have made the experience even richer. Once again, thanks for the article Dodgereric. That’s is what makes you so great around here on ITD. You always make us think and keep our minds sharp :))
Red pen on my earlier post about the Redskins. It should read “kind of excited about” not “kind of exciting about”.
BTW – 45 Days until pitchers and cathers report to Camelback Ranch. …………and for you NASCAR fans…………..Daytona in only 40 days – yeah!!!!!
Good Morning ITD,
NELLY thanks for the countdown…45 days and counting…I can’t wait. I’m excited! I’m sure Kersh & Billz did a lot of thinking and I’m sure this young boys have matured a lot. I can’t wait to see what they have learned and how the will handle the 2010 Season.
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I have been reading the Dodger Gossip above….LOL! Let me get my gossip pen out….:
OK LIKE I knew the problem with Russell Martin’s 2009 performance was the GF. She probably has him on a special Model’s diet. But I’m all for LOVE. If he loves her and she loves him, IT’S ALL GOOD, but MARTIN, needs to remember how much he LOVES BASEBALL. And his passion for BASEBALL needs to come back for 2010. Both LOVES are possible but if he can’t handle both than out with the GF….LOL J/K Hope Martin’s 2010 performance is better than 2009. And what is this…KEMP & RHIANNA (RHIKEMP – KEMPANNA)…WOW. Yeah she is beautiful and LOVE her music, but her entourage….PROBLEMS! I just hope KEMP CAN KEEP his FOCUS ON BASEBALL. More Gossip in the whole McCormic Divorce….men that Divorce is getting dirtier than Manny’s batting helmet!
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I’ll keep checking to see the DodgerNews progress and to see how ITD pips are doing. Hope everyone is having a wonderful DRE!
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