Ned Colletti is back on the radio: Implies players taking advantage of disabled list; later said he was just 'having fun'

Maybe Ned Colletti is just not a morning person. Or he should just stay off radio talk shows. Or at least Peter Tilden’s show.

Colletti was on Tilden’s show on KABC 790, the Dodgers’ flagship radio station, again Tuesday morning and again managed to take a benign question and create controversy.

Asked about the incredible number of Dodgers who have gone on the disabled list this season, Colletti said:

"It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen," Colletti said. "Sometimes you wonder what the thought process is, too.

"The disabled list used to be some place a player never wanted to go. And now it might be a safe haven, it might be a couple of weeks vacation. You just hope everybody is doing everything they can to get back and play.

"The money’s great, the lifestyle. The work is tough and all of that."

Reached before Tuesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, Colletti backtracked, saying he did not believe any of the Dodgers were taking advantage of the disabled list nor implying they weren’t actually injured.

"I don’t know how it came out, but that wasn’t my intent," Colletti said. "We’ve had a lot of guys go out, and from what I can see, they’re all trying to get back, it just takes some guys longer to get back than others.

"I have fun with Peter all the time."

A year ago Colletti caused a brouhaha when on Tilden’s show he ripped the defensive play and base running of Matt Kemp. That controversy lasted for weeks. Even last April, he started a minor controversy when he implied the Dodgers would go with a closer by committee. By day’s end, however, Manager Don Mattingly confirmed Jonathan Broxton as the closer.

Colletti’s implication on Tilden’s show Tuesday that some players weren’t injured severely enough for a continued stay on the DL may have been spoken out of frustration. There are six Dodgers on the disabled list. Thirteen Dodgers have been put on the DL this season a major league-high 18 times.

"I want to believe every guy is doing everything he can to get back and be a part of this," Mattingly said.

"There’s nobody I’m going to sit here and say is faking injuries. But this isn’t something new, either. When you’re around clubs, things happen to guys and it takes them a while to get back. And sometimes you’re like, 'Man, that’s taking a long time.' So I don’t think this is anything that’s like a new-age situation."

Stan Conte, the team’s director of medical services, has had a full training room all season.

"I feel personally responsible," Conte said. "I don’t know that I’ve ever seen this many injuries. So I can only comment on that part of it. We have had inordinate number."

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti. Credit: Kirby Lee / U.S. Presswire

Comments

[Dave]

Colletti signed these washed up scrubs. He should be taking responsibility for it.....

Why the hell we keep Dioner Navarro on this squad is beyond me.....

He's the laziest MLB player I have ever seen....

[Labeldude]

Ned's a horse's rear. Maybe he speaks of the phantom injuries PVLs seem to suffer when he wants to hide them on the DL so as not lose them. The only one abusing the DL is Ned himself. Pathetic.

[JimH]

That Neddy, not the sharpest knife in the drawer...

[JCA]

Good job Ned, way to keep team morall up.

[BOZO THE CLOWN]

This Season Is a Joke!

Joker Owner + Joker GM = Bad times for the fans.

Yuk, Yuk.

Hilarious!

[bob cuomo]

Let's face it, Colletti isn't a comedian. I think he'd better stick to his day job, where he's more of an expert...oh, wait.

[skyharbor]

Colletti and McCourt. A crock and a crook.

[FormerLifelongDodgerFan]

This clown never ever should have been hired and I demand that he is fired by the all-star game at the latest. I hate him.

[16blows]

Ned is auditioning to become an 'an*l'yst on the MLB Network next season...

[HI Dodger Fan]

Again, Ned proves me right.....he's an IDIOT! but Frank is the bigger idiot for keeping him all these years... watch out Frank, Barry Zito will be wearing Dodger Blue before you know it

[alanw19]

such a dumb*s*

[Airedale]

You've got an owner stealing from the team. Might be easier to sit with an ache when you see all the dishonesty above. Even so, Colletti needs to learn to keep his mouth shut or at least make some sense when he talks.

I'm glad Ned's "having fun", because Dodger fans sure as hell are not.

[Mike M]

I am not defending Colletti's decisions; however, when you are forced to work with the money scraps leftover from the McCourt's lifestyle improvements, there is aren't many signing options available.

However, I do agree that we should not be surprised with the disabled list merry-go-round. Most players we, the Dodgers, sign WERE/MIGHT HAVE BEEN good players in their prime. Unfortunately, the team continue to sign them in the final years of their careers and then show frustration when they break down.

When is the last time you saw the Dodgers sign a big star in their PRIME to a contract? Do not look for it with the McCourts in control. No big star signs to a one or two year contract.

[TheDuke14]

Hey Ned...............only Phil Jackson is good at managing from the Media. I'm sure Broxton is motivated from your recent comments. How about teaching him a pitch or two that will work other than a flat let me hit it fast ball the National League has been feasting on that for several years. At least Kuo has come clean..............he's scared. I can't blame him. Two arm surgeries a suspect offense and a GM that needs to move on with the Owership change.

[Milo]

Don't forget that Colletti also signed Jason Schmidt, Manny Rameriez, and Juan Pierre to crazy contracts and got about a year's worth of production out of over $100,000,000 in contracts. This guy was and is a joke and needs to go along with McCourt(s) if Dodgers are to rebound.

[Chumpy Kemp]

What he says is true, though. Most of the players on this team just mail it in. There's no passion, spirit or heart (Dee Gordon notwithstanding). It's been that way for a long time. The Dodgers lose because they have a losing attitude, and they play losing baseball.

[NorCal Dodger]

The glass is half full. This likely wasn't going to be the Dodgers' year to win a pennant anyway. At least we get to see alot of the rookies play and get ready for next year. Only real downside is if this turns out that they are only auditioning for bad trades for more damaged goods (or if McCourt is still around next year).

[Joe Chorneau]

As falls Witchita, so falls Witchita Falls... when the gods are against ya, not even Hell can save you, the Dodgers are locked in purgatory with McCourt and Colletti together bringing the Dodgers down into the deepest depths of ill repute.

[16blows]

"Don't forget that Colletti also signed"

- slappy 'e' to a $9.5 mill boondoggle this season... just watch - rather than get rid of that 'always was overhyped' banjo player, he'll resign him for about $15 mill per; can his MVP & Triple Crown be far behind?

Give me Juan Pierre - dudger team's leading hitter at .308 his final year here & 30 stolen bases (2nd best team) in limited opportunity - afore being stolen by the White Sox. Even now as he approaches an twilight stage age 34, he is the epitome of what a 'TEAM FIRST' player is.

Too, his MLB best 68 sb's last year in a brand new league, professionalism & work habits is much preferable over 'fingerman', his 'owees' as well his puny 5 hrs hitting in the #3 slot. Always find it amusing when 'e's apologists say no one gets on base in front of him to drive in... this no doubt comes as an great shock to both Carroll and Miles.

He's as big a money pit as other like types on the dudger dole (uribe, furcal, navarro- hey, it's a veritable cornucopia!)

Juan Pierre!

P-I-E-R-R-E!

[First Baseman]

Like I said before, the players today do not love the game of baseball but it is all about the money. Get rid of these players and bring players who want to play baseball 24 hours a day. When I was a kid, my friends and I would play baseball from the time the sun came up until almost midnight. Today's kids sit in the house playing video games, watching tv, texting and talking on the cell phone. Playing baseball is all day is a great life....sitting in the dugout smelling the leather of the love and folding the brim of the cap before you place it back on your head.

[First Baseman]

The previous post had some misspelled words. this is the corrected post. "Like I said before, the players today do not love the game of baseball but it is all about the money. Get rid of these players and bring players who want to play baseball 24 hours a day. When I was a kid, my friends and I would play baseball from the time the sun came up until almost midnight. Today's kids sit in the house playing video games, watching tv, texting and talking on the cell phone. Playing baseball all day is a great life....sitting in the dugout smelling the leather of the glove and folding the brim of the cap before you place it back on your head.

[DonInOregon]

NedCo to the 60 day DL for brain cramp.

[Ned&StanTheNewOddCouple]

the 2nd-best thing about a new owner (hopefully) taking over is that Ned likely will be gone!!!

the 3rd-best thing is that Conte too may be sent packing!!!

[FormerLifelongDodgerFan]

NedCo to the 60 day DL for brain cramp.

Posted by: DonInOregon | 06/15/2011 at 09:55 AM

====================================

Gotta have a brain to suffer that malady. Ned's brainless.

[whamo]

The great Dodger teams were built from within. They didn't sign free agents. Branch Rickey and Lasorda and Jim Gilliam and all the other hardcore baseball men took the time to develop and train players with the skills they needed to excel. Now GM's overpay or trade for bums. Ned is not the only GM to make this mistake, but he is a glaring example. The Mccourt and the Mccort rear end kissers need to move on. They had their chance, and they blew it.

[Neds Daddy]

NedCo make Kevin Malone look like a genius. McClueless should make his sons the gm so they can earn their millions their paid. They cant do any worse. Andru Jones has retired.