Dodgers' Web musings: Show me the money -- Angels offer contrast heading into offseason

OK, it’s a continuing theme, albeit a two-day theme.

Yet it bears repeating, unfortunately. Two Los Angeles-area baseball teams, both suffering a disappointing season and now heading into the offseason from opposite directions.

The Angels have a mandate to return to their winning ways. Owner Arte Moreno told The Times’ Bill Plaschke he was angry over the team’s play and would spend what it takes to return his team to the postseason.

"If you want to continue to perform at the highest level, you have to keep building the business," Moreno said. "And that's what I intend to do."

What a concept. A team with commitment. A team with a plan.

This was in stark contrast to a story the previous day in The Times from T.J. Simers, chronicling how uncertain things are with the Dodgers’ offseason plans.

I almost felt sorry for Ned Colletti as Simers asked him about his ability to spend in the offseason, and the general manager was forced into a lot of I-don’t-know-yet responses about the Dodgers' financial resources.

One team is immediately letting it be known it will do whatever it takes to return to the top. The other is still foundering.

"We know where our weaknesses are, we know where we are thin, we know where we have to go to market," Moreno said. "It's going to cost money, but our fans need to know what we're committed to winning."

Also out there on the Web:

-- ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark's always entertaining season review has Dodger John Lindsey in the Debut of the Year. After waiting 16 years in the minors, Lindsey never actually played in his first official game.

-- The New York Times’ Dave Anderson talks to pitcher Carl Erskine on the 55th anniversary of the Brooklyn Dodgers finally beating the Yankees for their first World Series title.

-- SportsIllustrated.com’s Jon Heyman has a list of the 38 potential new managers to be hired his offseason and at No.1 is Joe Torre. Checking in at No. 26 is Tim Wallach, who Heyman said reportedly turned down an opportunity to interview in Toronto.

-- Congratulations to Kirk Gibson signing for two years with the Diamondbacks. Should be fun. Gibson told the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro he wants the team to improve in a variety of areas, from picking off opposing base-runners to deking defenders, and somehow transitioned into wanting his pitchers to be able to show bunt before pulling back to slash.

"If Todd Helton wants to come charging in there, he better be ready to hit the deck," Gibson said. "That's what I'm talking about."

-- Daily News columnist Tom Hoffarth has served Frank and Jamie McCourt with a class-action divorce from the fans, demanding full custody of the Dodgers. Good stuff.

-- ESPN/LA.com’s Jon Weisman has teamed up with his staff’s creative people to offer a series of online postseason Dodgers baseball cards.

-- According to MLBtraderumors.com, the Dodgers will have the 16th pick in the June draft, one spot ahead of the Angels. Got ’em there!

-- The Riverside Press-Enterprise’s David Lassen warns that retooling the Dodgers will be a serious challenge, with Colletti saying there won’t be major roster revisions.

-- SportsIllustrated.com’s Joe Posnanski offers a terrific look at Vin Scully. Really well done.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[Howard Sunkin]

I think the Dodgers spend their money wisely.

[Jim McVeigh]

We need in L.A. to occur what happened years back in football when owners traded each other, WHAT WE NEED IS FOR frank and jamie TO BE TRADED FOR MR. ARTE MORENO....... I will say a novena on that behalf. PLEASE........

[alanw19]

Horse is dead - beat it all you want. Dodgers blog - not Angels.

[Labeldude]

Ned's motto is "Show me the funny." And I have to say in that respect, his acquisitions never disappoint.

[Scott from Marina Del Rey]

You want to keep going on this theme one more day, Steve, that's fine. And for the record, again, I can't stand the McCourts (along with Selig) and what they've done to this franchise, either. But if Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and James Loney remember how to hit, and Broxton either remembers how to pitch or is pushed aside for Jansen, and Kersh & Bills continue to dominate while Kuroda and/or Padilla and/or Lilly continue to provide a steady veteran presence while Scott Kazmir continues to implode, Mike Napoli continues to strike out, and Vlad Guerrero continues to hit in Texas, I don't think Angel fans will be relieved to know that they have enough ice.

As for Colletti, I felt the same way you did, until this trade deadline. Given that the financial situation is no secret, you wouldn't think he'd be so eager to trade away a bunch of young prospects, most notably James McDonald- and that's not even considering what little they got in return. He's as much a culprit of what's going on as anyone, as not every team that is competitive spends enormous amounts of money- they just spend WISELY. (see: Twins, Minnesota)

[Dave Regan]

Good post "Howard". Funny.

[Joe the Plumber]

Moreno said. "... we're committed to winning." This is the attitude necessary to be successful!

[Stan]

For Vinnies sake, I would love to see him go out with a winner. Not just a playoff appearance but a WS appearance or the whole enchalada. Hang in there, Vinnie.

[whamo]

The Angels have become the class baseball organization in Southern California. The Dodgers franchise is turning sour.

[Joe the Plumber]

I am thinking of changing my 50-year rooting interest in the Dodgers to another team. Fan rules say I have to remain loyal... no matter what happens? Why? The Dodgers don't have a winning attitude. I feel trapped and obligated. I want to feel enthusiastic and optimistic about my team. It use to be you rooted for the name and the same players, they were your guys. But with free-agency, you now root for just the team name. The players come and go! Why should I remain loyal?

No one will care if I switch teams although my wife and son will be very surprised! I live in New Jersey, so I would have to strongly consider the Yankees or the Phillies. Both clubs have a winning attitude, especially the Yanks. I will get to see many more televised games. The few games I get to see with the Dodgers are usually losses!

The Dodgers have not been in the World Series for 22 years. They will have to be very, very lucky to get into the Series under this ownership, GM, manager, and current players.

I might be a traitor, and this may be completely wrong, but I can’t help but feel like there are more out there just like me.

I haven’t decided one way or the other… I’m actually heartbroken over it. But change could be coming. Are we not allowed to cash in an imaginary get-out-of-fan-jail-free card once in a lifetime? Hello Yankee baseball?

[Done AsAFanUntilMcCourtCollettiTorreRussellMartinAreGone]

Appropriate blog entry on a day when a team that isn't afraid to spend and actually acquire talent gets a postseason no-hitter while the Dodgers are doing absolutely nothing on or off the field.

[These Dodgers Suck!!]

the Dodgers should maybe rehire Jamie as a consultant on the RIGHT way to spend their dwindling money ...

she's reportedly been able to do pretty well on that pathetic little stipend that Frank's been sending her.

[Done AsAFanUntilMcCourtCollettiTorreRussellMartinAreGone]

Joe the Plumber - I'm switching teams. Been a Dodgers fan since I was a little kid in the mid 70s, but I just don't have any connection at all to this franchise at this point. The Red Sox have always been my AL team, and I like the Cardinals, and both franchises are quality and TRY to compete, plus they aren't dreadfully boring to watch like the Dodgers. I'm done with that crap franchise, and feel great about it. I've been incredibly loyal, and this franchise couldn't care less about the average fan, so screw them. I hope that MANY more Dodger fans like myself and you do the same. Enough is enough. It's not like this franchise is going to be fun, exciting, watchable, proud or good again anytime in the near future.

[Labeldude]

That picture of Frank, Mattingly and Ned... am I the only one who thinks that Frank looks like a cardboard cutout they stuck in there?

[OldBrooklynFan]

I like the David Lassen article, not different than what I've read elsewhere but a lot more comfortable to read.

[neoncactus]

So if Frank came out and said he was committed to winning and would spend more money, would you fawn all over him? The Angels did spend a lot more money than the Dodgers this season, and did no better. Moreno allowed his team's leadoff hitter and ace to leave and thought they'd still win the division? They also lost Vlad, although with his injuries, I can't really blame them for that, but he's been a huge addition for the Rangers this year.

All I'm saying is that Arte can go out and spend money, and if the A's add some good hitters to their pitching staff, and if the Rangers continue to do well next year, it doesn't guarantee anything. Meanwhile, Frank could (and may) sit on his hands and not do much of anything, and if Ethier, Kemp and Loney rebound, they could win their division.

So let's see Arte put his money where his mouth is, let's see the Angels produce first, but I don't see how finishing with a slightly better record, but far out of the playoffs, makes the Angels any better than the Dodgers.

[gmcdonald25]

@@eoncactus: I guess you don't watch enough baseball to know that all around the Angels are a better ball club than the Dodgers. The Angels season was ruined by injuries, including Kendry Morales, their starting first basemen&clean up hitter, Joel Pinero their 3rd starter, Eric Aybar their starting shortstop, Macier Izturis their best utility player, Jeff Mathis their best defensive catcher. So yeah we may of finished with the same record as the Dodgers, but coming from a team with 5 key injuries i'd say they did pretty well. The Dodgers had the same team they did last season, same players, so whats their excuse? Exactly, they don't have one. Matt Kemp didn't have a down season because he just wasn't seeing the ball, he had a down season because he wants out of LA, and his agent has reported that he wants to be traded. We won 80 games without 5 of our regulars, and you only won 80 games with all of your regulars, so you tell me who you think the better team is now. Oh, and not to mention we did beat you guys 5 out of 6 times this season, so i think we cleary showed who the better team was in the freeway series. Throw out the identical records, and look at how horrible you played against us. Our future looks better than yours, we have young talent on the rise, Peter Bourjos, said to be major league baseballs fastest player, Hank Conger ranked right behind Buster Posey in top rookie catching prospects, Mike Trout, who is being compared to Mickey Mantle, young pitching prospects like Michael Kohn, Trevor Reckling, and Jordan Walden. Who knows who the Angels will bring in during the offseason. Maybe some one along the lines of Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, or maybe an Adrian Beltre? See you in 2011, and we'll compare records then.