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> DECEMBER 2001 December
21, 2001 The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today they have acquired outfielder Dave Roberts from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for left-handed minor league pitchers Christian Bridenbaugh and Nial Hughes. Roberts is a 29-year-old minor leaguer with a total of 75 Major League games under his belt. Nothing against Roberts, but let's take a look at what the Dodgers gave up. Bridenbaugh is a 22-year-old lefty who spent the 2001 season at Single-A Wilmington, where he had a 3.68 ERA. Hughes, 24, is another left-handed pitcher who spent time in Single-A in 2001, racking up a 3.75 ERA in 27 games. Sure, who needs two young lefties when you've got Jesse Orosco? The Dodgers have been in trouble the last few years because their minor league system has been depleted. So what do they do? Trade two young pitchers for an unnecessary 29-year-old outfielder who has spent 8 seasons in the minors. Genius. December
20, 2001 Dipping back into the past, the Dodgers have signed Hideo Nomo to a two-year deal. Nomo, who pitched with LA from 1996-1998, led the American League in strikeouts last season. That can't be right. Maybe they meant he led the league in fewest English words spoken. Either way, the signing of Nomo would give the Dodgers about a dozen #4 starters. It would also continue the team's trend of getting back former Dodgers-- most of whom had worsened considerably over the years. Eddie Murray, Mike Maddux, Jesse Orosco, Jose Vizcaino, Ramon Martinez, Orel Hershiser, Ismael Valdes, Omar Daal... the list goes on and on. But hey, if signing Nomo means that Terry Mulholland won't be in the rotation next year, we're all for it. December
13, 2001
December
7, 2001 The Los Angeles Times reported today that the Dodgers are big losers. Duh. .... Oh, they mean financially. Well, what's new? They can't field a decent team, why should we expect that they can balance the books? Based on financial data released this week by Major League Baseball owners, the Dodgers lost $69 million last season. And that doesn't count Darren Dreifort's salary. December
6, 2001
December
3, 2001
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In
a blockbuster deal that's shocking the baseball world, the Dodgers
dealt Luke Prokopec and Chad Ricketts to Toronto for relief pitcher
Paul Quantrill and infielder Cesar Izturis. An all-star last year,
Quantrill (22 Scrabble points) will join Matt Herges as a set-up
man. Izturis (23 Scrabble points) will apparently compete with Alex
Cora for the starting shortstop job. "I considered shortstop a position
we needed to upgrade in 2002," Dan Evans told the Associated Press.
Excuse me, Dan, but Cesar Izturis is an upgrade??? The guy
has nine major league RBIs. (Which, actually, is only about
three less than Cora.) Beautiful. 
Continuing
to ignore the team itself, the Dodgers have hired Kim Ng as Assistant
General Manger. For the past three years, the 33-year-old Ng had
been the Assistant General Manager for the Yankees. She is only
of only three women to hold such a position. (There had been four,
but Fred Claire was fired.) Prior to her position with the Yankees,
Ng worked six years for the Chicago White Sox, where Dan Evans was
GM. When Evans found out she was available this week, he wasted
no time. "I made her an offer over dinner last night in Pasadena,
I was thrilled when she accepted," Evans said. What he didn't
say, however, was that he tried to hump her leg and she kicked him
in the nuts. Ng then proceeded to search the restaurant for a vowel
to add to her last name. A quick note to Dan Evans: YOU NOW HAVE
112 PEOPLE IN UPPER MANAGEMENT (ALL OF WHOM ARE EXPERTS IN TRANSACTION
RULES YET KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BASEBALL), BUT NO CLOSER. GET YOUR
SHIT TOGETHER.
As
a reward for getting a lousy team into the playoff hunt, the Dodgers
have picked up the option years on manager Jim Tracy's contract.
Tracy was under contract for 2002, but the Dodgers actions now guarentee
he'll be with the team through the 2004 season. (Although we all
know damn well that he'll be fired late in 2002 after the Marlins
end up with a better record.) The man who looks like David Letterman
and talks like Mr. Rogers actually DID do a good job with the team
in 2001, dealing with the Sheffield situation in spring training
and the loss of key starters throughout the season. He finished
second in the National League Manager of the Year voting, although
frankly I think Manny Mota stuffed the ballot box. Either way, look
forward to seeing Mr. Personality sitting on his ass in the dugout
for three more years.