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> MARCH 2002 March
30, 2002
The departure of Trombley also means that two of Dan Evans first three moves have failed. James Baldwin, acquired by Evans late last season, is now with Seattle. Trombley, acquired a short time later, bombed horribly and is now gone. And Omar Daal, Evans' third aquisition, is being relegated to the bullpen and has already demanded a trade. Somewhere, Fred Claire is laughing. March
31, 2002
March
27, 2002
March
24, 2002
In Herges (20-11 with a 3.30 ERA the past 2 years) the Dodgers lose a relatively solid set-up guy and a popular figure in the clubhouse (something that continues to be overlooked by management). Plus, Herges' departure essentially means that Eric Gagne, who has never closed a major league game in his life, will being the season as the Dodgers' closer. Sadly, it also means that Omar Daal will probably make the team. Guillermo Mota, acquired in the trade, was 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA last year, spending time on the DL with shoulder tendinitis, and, to top it off, underwent elbow surgery in 1999—a pre-requisite to any arm the Dodgers pick up. Walkin Ruan, the other player sent to the Dodgers from Montreal, is basically Tom Goodwin with a better arm. "He's a potential Gold Glove center fielder who will play at Double-A this year," said Dan Evans. "He helps bridge the gap for us, gives us depth in the minor leagues." Sure, if the goal is to replete the farm system with mediocre talent that'll never make it to the bigs, way to go, Dan. March
23, 2002
March
21, 2002
March
10, 2002
March
1, 2002
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Veteran
pieces of garbage Tom Goodwin and Mike Trombley were designated
for assignment on Saturday, thankfully bringing an end to their
painful Dodger careers. The Dodgers technically have 10 days to
trade them, release them or convince them to accept a minor league
assignment. Since there ain't no chance in hell any other team would
trade for them, and both have said that they'll refuse a minor-league
assignment (thankfully), it figures that they'll be released. This
continues the recent Dodger trend of paying millions of dollars
to guys no longer on the roster. Carlos Perez, Gregg Olson, F.P.
Santangelo... and now Trombley and Goodwin, to whom the Dodgers
will pay $6 million in salary and contract buy-outs. Trombley had
this to say: "Basically this means I'm not a Dodger anymore,
but it puts me in a tough position. I'd rather be released and go
wherever I want to go. At this point, why would anybody trade for
me? This isn't doing me any good. They're worried about the $2 million."
Yeah, no shit, moron. They're paying your sorry ass $2 million.
Go home, shut up, and take your money.
Pitching
in Seattle was supposed to give Kazuhiro Ishii an opportunity to
adjust to a major league ballpark. Instead, it gave the Dodgers
a glimpse into the nightmare that lies ahead. Ishii continued his
spring struggles, walking 7 people (including 5 consecutive) and
hitting a batter in 2 2/3 innings against the Mariners on Sunday.
Ishii, who's making Rick Ankiel look like Greg Maddux, was due to
start next weekend against Colorado, but the Dodgers may now rethink
that. Hey, while they're at it, they may want to rethink shelling
out $11 million just to bid on a pitcher most of them had never
seen before.
With
the 2002 season about to start, the Dodgers are giving fans no reason
for optimism. This should be reassuring to most of us, given that
intelligent baseball fans have grown to never expect more than complete
failure from the Dodgers. When the Dodger having the best spring
training is Jesse Orosco, we're all in trouble. Brown's health is
still a question, the only legitimate closer option has been traded,
the centerfielder is Dave Roberts, and Kazuhisa Ishii has pitched
something like 8 innings this spring—and has been shelled.
Tom Goodwin will earn $5 million but may not make the team, Mark
Grudzielanek is unhappy about his spot in the lineup, and there's
still no decent right-handed hitter off the bench. Omar Daal desperately
wants a trade (though no team is dumb enough), Cesar Izturis may
be the lead-off man, and Eric Karros is showing absolutely no signs
of emerging from hibernation. Play ball!
Matt
Herges isn't the only one shedding tears over the deal sending him
and minor league infielder Jorge Nunez to the Montreal Expos for
29-year-old relief pitcher Guillermo Mota and minor league outfielder
Walkin Ruan. Dodger fans have yet another reason to shake their
heads and scream, as Dan Evans continues to make perplexing deals
that prove he doesn't know a fucking thing about baseball. The same
can be said for all these "special assistants" who've
been hired in recent months to help make intelligent baseball decisions.
Either they're asleep, related to Kevin Malone, or just retarded.
Dante
Bichette—all 360 pounds of him—has decided to retire after
14 years in the major leagues. Hitting just .190 with two home runs
and four RBI this spring, Bichette told Dan Evans of his decision
Friday. "I would be hurting this team if I were to stick around
when my heart really wasn't in it," he said. Bichette wanted to
be an everyday player, but if he made the team, odds were he'd only
be used as a pinch-hitter. Bichette's departure leaves the Dodgers
with a weak right-handed bench. (What's new?) With Mike Kinkade,
Hiram Bocachica and Phil Hiatt as the right-handed possibilities
off the bench, here's hoping they just cancel the season. 
At
the basement in the Grapefruit League standings, the Dodgers have
put on a typically pathetic show so far this spring. At 6-13 the
Dodgers can talk all they want about Spring Training not meaning
anything, but doesn't it? Plus or minus a couple guys, this is the
team that will take the field on April 2nd. The Dodgers are batting
.237 and have committed 29 errors in 21 games. Ishii, Brown, Ashby,
and Daal have all struggled, and Herges—the potential closer—has
a 9.00 ERA. Green and Beltre are batting below .200, which is more
than can be said for Grudzielanek, who is yet to get a hit. They
still have no leadoff man, and either way they decide to go at short
(Cora or Izturis), they're without much of a stick. The good news?
Plenty of material for dodgerblues.com!
According
to Peter Gammons, the Dodgers tried to get a scout from an opposing
team interested in Mike Trombley. "Sorry," the scout told Dan Evans,
"our gun can't measure fastballs below 84." That's pretty damn funny,
or pretty damn sad, depending on how you look at it. For Dan Evans,
though, it was pretty damn confusing, since he doesn't know an 84-mph
fastball from his wife's big panties. As for Trombley, the Dodgers
might want to start looking for little league teams in need of a
mop-up guy. Piece of garbage.
It
didn't take long for Omar Daal to pitch like Omar Daal. Houston
pounded Daal for nine hits and five runs in 1 2/3 innings in a 6-2
victory over the Dodgers on Friday. Generally it's not smart to
rush to conclusions after a poor pitching appearance in spring training,
but we won't let that stop us. He's a piece of garbage, and should
be tossed in a dumpster where he belongs. Competing for a job in
the starting rotation with Odalis Perez, Eric Gagne and Terry Mulholland,
Daal said he wasn't worried about falling behind in the competition.
"What competition?" he asked. "I didn't know I was competing for
anything. The important thing is I'm feeling great." So are we,
Omar. So are we.