Finding reasons to appreciate the Dodgers 2011 season

They’re having fan appreciation day for the Dodgers on Sunday, which is curious for a couple of reasons. They still have three more games to play here and, of course, what exactly is there to appreciate in the worst season in organizational history?

That’s why we’re here to help:

• No traffic problems getting to the game.
  
  
• Matt Kemp played like the Matt Kemp everyone always thought was there, and not like the one who was here last season.
  
  
• Vin Scully remained perfect, even when he wasn't. And he’s coming back.
  
  
• Don Mattingly earned his stripes.
  
  
• Steve Soboroff came and then went.
  
  
• The suspense that is Eugenio Velez.
  
  
• Buy a nose-bleed seat, walk down to the better seat of your choice.
  
  
• Clayton Kershaw arrived as an ace.
  
  
• Tim Federowicz shaved his mustache.
  
  
• Young arms boded well for future.
  
  
• No one uncovered another Vladimir Shpunt, as if that’s possible.
  
  
• Josh Rawitch is leaving (kidding).
  
  
• Kenley Jansen was sick.
  
  
• Tickets available on-line for $1.85.
  
  
• Frank McCourt disappeared from his look-at-me seat.
  
  
• McCourt sold one of his mansions. Hurry, only seven left!
  
  
• Teammates nicknamed heavily tatted Justin Sellers "Cell Block."
  
  
• Dodger Dogs. Real, grilled Dodger Dogs.
  
  
• No traffic problems leaving the game.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp gets set in the batter's box. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Josh Rawitch to leave Dodgers, ship sinks lower

We fought almost every day, over issues new and old, developments big and small. One day’s battle could just roll over into the next.

I won every single argument. Not that it was a level playing field. I had logic on my side. Josh Rawitch had Frank McCourt.

I exaggerate, of course. Pretty sure I conceded one disagreement in 2009, but the memory has grown hazy.

The amazing thing about it, though, is for all the eye rolling as we looked at each other, stunned that the clarity of the moment seemed so completely lost on the other, it was never truly heated. At least not to the point of affecting our professional and personal relationships.

Which tells you a lot about the kind of person Josh Rawitch is, and why the Arizona Diamondbacks sought him out.

Rawitch, vice president of communications for the Dodgers, gave notice on Monday. At season’s end, he will become the senior vice president of communications for the Diamondbacks. The addition of the word "senior" to a title might not mean much to you or me, but apparently it has some significance in the corporate world.

It's not a 'perception issue' that Dodgers eliminated uniformed police officers at stadium in 2009

Someday, there will be good news coming the Dodgers’ way. Not today, though. Certainly not recently. Probably not tomorrow, either.

It’s an organization on the wrong kind of a roll. And still picking up speed.

Security has become a bigger issue with the Dodgers than their lack of offensive power, and now a new story in The Times by Joel Rubin shows that the Dodgers eliminated having uniformed police at Dodger Stadium two years ago. That’s two years before the brutal attack of a Giants fan on opening day.

Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch, who keeps getting stuck having to speak for Frank McCourt, acknowledged in the story that the organization cut uniformed officers from the security team, but declined to discuss the reason.

Anybody want to make any wild guesses?

Later in the story, it said uniformed police officers were paid $50 an hour and worked about six hours per game. With 81 home games and approximately 50 uniformed police officers working most games, Rubin notes the cost could easily exceed $1 million.

Crowds down for Dodgers at Camelback Ranch [Updated]

The Dodgers are playing to a lot of empty seats this spring.

They need to figure out a way to computer generate some bodies in the stands at Camelback Ranch for the TV cameras. A stadium that holds 13,000 is a step away from embarrassing when it’s less than half full, which it often has been this spring.

Maybe the Arizona novelty for Dodgers fans has worn off. Maybe it’s a result of a losing season or a state hit hard by the recession. Or just possibly, it’s a weariness with ownership.

Either way, Dodgers’ attendance has plummeted this spring. Last year the Dodgers averaged a record 11,589 in 17 home games. This spring, through 10 games, they are averaging 6,645.

[Updated, 1:30 p.m. Tuesday: Those figures are inflated by including the two games played at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers public relations vice president Josh Rawitch said Tuesday that the average attendance exlusively at Camelback last season was 8,893.

Current attendance at Camelback through 11 games has been 7,144, a drop of 19.7%, significantly less than the 42.3% figure I reported that included the two games at Dodger Stadium. Based on the 6,645 average attendance at the time of the original post, attendance would have been down 25.3%.]

Attendance throughout Arizona is down significantly, and in spring training in general. Major League Baseball attendance this spring has fallen an average of 1,309 a game, or 17.2%.

That’s still a long way from 42.3%.

The Dodgers said attendance in the Arizona area has been particularly hit because the Rockies and Diamondbacks opened a new stadium in Glendale. They are two of only five teams with an increase in spring attendance this season.

"There’s no doubt that adding two more teams to the Phoenix area, including the Diamondbacks whose hometown fans are several hours closer to spring training, has had an impact around the whole league,"  Rawitch said.

"But we’re still seeing tons of Dodger fans at Camelback and the feedback that we’re getting from those who make the trip from Los Angeles continues to be extremely positive.’’

Maybe so, but there are less of them to offer feedback.

There’s no telling if this portends a problem for the Dodgers during the regular season. The Dodgers don’t normally release their season ticket figures, though they are reportedly on target for where they expect to be. Still, last season the no-shows were significant.

The Dodgers are expecting a large crowd Saturday and when the Cubs arrive on Tuesday, so their final spring numbers may not be so chilling. For now, though, the empty seats are what gets your attention.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: There were plenty of good seats available for the Dodgers-Diamondbacks game at Camelback Ranch on St. Patrick's Day. Credit: Jake Roth / US Presswire

Dodgers web musings: Japan quake stuns Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers, baseball

The devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan was being felt hard throughout baseball.

Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda said his immediate family was safe in Los Angeles and most of his extended family live on the western side of Japan, but that he was still trying to locate his brother who lives near Tokyo and often travels north on business.

Via Dodgers.com’s Ken Gurnick: "I think he is OK, but I don't know where his whereabouts are," Kuroda said through translator Kenji Nimura. "I'm trying to contact him."

Other baseball response to the tragedy:

-- Dodgers communications vice president Josh Rawitch shared how some in the organization were reacting at his Inside the Dodgers blog.

-- MLB.com’s Spencer Fordin gives an overview of Japanese players’ reaction.

-- The Times’ Kevin Baxter said ex-Dodger Takashi Saito was granted a leave of absence from the Milwaukee Brewers. Team officials said he has spoken to his wife and children but unable to reach his parents.

[Update:] Baxter has a more in depth look at baseball's overall reaction.

[Update II:] Baxter writes Saito has now been able to account for all of his family.

-- Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal also has response from players, including ex-Angel Hideki Matsui.

Also on the Web:

-- Once the Dodgers were the most popular sports team in town. Now it is clearly the Lakers, not that the Dodgers haven’t figured out a way to cash in on it.

The Dodgers have scheduled a "Lakers Tribute" night, at which they will give away purple-and-gold-colored Dodgers caps April 14.

Vin Scully Is My Homeboy’s Roberto Baly has a picture.

-- ESPN/LA’s Jon Weisman makes a case for how the Dodgers offense could prove better than expected.

-- Dodgers.com’s Gurnick gives a team review half way through spring training.

-- Joe Posnanski explains how he’s opened up to many of the numbers promoted by baseball sabermetrics.

-- Basebally Savvy’s Howard Cole has his part five in his series looking at baseball bloggers, this time with the humorous if nonsensical responses by Sons of Steve Garvey, who continue to hide behind anonymity.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Dodgers expected to wear patch this season honoring Duke Snider

Duke Snider was the Dodgers’ greatest position player of all time. He is their career leader in home runs, RBI and extra-base hits. He is second in doubles and total bases, third in runs and fourth in hits and slugging percentage.

It should come as no surprise that the team is making plans to pay tribute to Snider this season by adding a memorial patch to players' uniform sleeves. Snider died last Sunday at age 84.

[Update:] This would mark only the sixth time in the Dodgers’ 121-year history they have worn a memorial patch and the first in 11 years.

Previously they wore patches for Jim Gilliam, Don McMahon, Tim Crews, a combination patch for Don Drysdale and Roy Campanella, and for Pee Wee Reese in 2000.

"We’re still in the process of determining how we’ll honor Duke’s memory," said Josh Rawitch, team vice president of communications.

A private memorial service for Snider is scheduled March 12. The team is not expected to formally announce how it plans to honor the Hall of Famer until after the service.

Snider’s family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Fallbrook Union High School Baseball Program, c/o Fallbrook Baseball ASB, 2234 S. Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook, CA 92028.

Major League Baseball ran a full-page ad in Thursday's Times honoring Snider and calling him one of the greatest center fielders of all time.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Dodgers Web musings: MRI on Jon Garland's shoulder scared off teams

Some felt Jon Garland could have received a richer, longer contract if he had decided to sign elsewhere. Some were a bit mystified about how the Dodgers structured the contract tied to innings pitched.

Garland, however, offered an explanation this week on the 790-AM Mason and Ireland Show about why teams may have shied away, telling Steve Mason (audio):

``I had a few teams that were a little worried about my MRI on my physical. They were a little weary about committing that much money over a few years when there’s so much up in the air, especially with starting pitching.’’

Garland made similar remarks about the MRI on his shoulder to Jim Bowden on his XM Radio show.

Must be some fairly scary stuff on that MRI.

Any 31-year-old pitcher who’s thrown over 2,000 innings isn’t likely to have the cleanest MRI on his shoulder, but apparently it was bad enough to frighten other teams away from a long-term contract.

Which explains why the Dodgers would offer $5 million next season, plus $3.5 million in incentives based purely on innings pitched, the bonuses beginning with 150 innings.

For an $8-million club option to kick in for 2012, Garland must throw at least 190 innings. He has thrown at least 190 innings for 10 consecutive seasons.

Also on the Web:

-- Chad Moriyama at MemoriesofKevinMalone.com gets an early jump on evaluating the Dodgers eligible for arbitration … in 2011.

-- ESPN.com’s Tim Kurkjian writes that Don Mattingly’s work ethic and underrated communication skills bode well for him as the Dodgers’ new manager.

-- InsidetheDodgers.com’s Josh Rawitch, the team’s vice president of communications, said fellow Dominican Manny Mota talked to Juan Uribe almost daily after the World Series to persuade him to sign with the Dodgers.

-- The WashingtonPost.com’s Adam Kilgore writes that the Nationals have added former bench coach Bob Schaefer to their front office as a special assistant to GM Mike Rizzo. Guess that’s one team Matt Kemp won’t be traded to.

-- Yahoosports.com’s Tim Brown likes the signing of Uribe and thinks the infusion of experience should serve the Dodgers well.

-- Foxsports.com’s Bowden lists his five best moves (video) of the offseason thus far, listing the Dodgers’ rotation signings at No. 4.

-- CBSsports.com’s Scott Miller finds himself pleasantly surprised by the Dodgers’ rash of early Hot Stove League activity.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Funny how the Dodgers announce the Joe Torre move in the wake of the Peter O'Malley story

I would like to believe that was one of the greatest sports public relation moves ever. I don’t know that I can believe it, but I’d like to.

In the wake of The Times' story that former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley asked Frank McCourt to sell the team because he had "lost all credibility throughout the city," the Dodgers announced Manager Joe Torre was stepping down and being replaced next season by Don Mattingly.

All of a sudden the explosive O’Malley story was the No. 2 Dodgers piece.

Absolute genius.

The O’Malley story still figures to have legs, but much of the venom that would have been directed at McCourt by media and fans is now focused on the managerial change.

And they say the Dodgers PR department isn’t what is was … under O’Malley.

I love the conspiracy idea. Adding fuel, General Manager Ned Colletti revealed Friday a contract calling for Mattingly to replace Torre when he stepped down was actually signed before spring training.

They could have made this announcement any time! And just absolutely coincidentally, they do it on the day the O’Malley story appears in The Times?

Josh Rawitch, the Dodgers' vice president of communications, tried to play it off that way.

"The announcement had been the works since early (Thursday)," Rawitch said.

Right, but what’s a good PR guy supposed to say? We had to cut that O’Malley story off at the legs as soon as possible and just happen to have the Torre announcement in our pocket?

Greatest sports PR move ever.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodgers owner Frank McCourt thanks Manager Joe Torre for his three years of service during a news conference on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

It's Frank McCourt to be seen, not heard

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt made a rare appearance on the field during Wednesday’s batting practice, stopping to chat with players, coaches, club officials and a group of fans from El Salvador.

Talking to just about everyone … but the press.

Approached by Times beat writer Dylan Hernandez and myself during batting practice, he shook hands and said hello. And then had a conversation with the team vice president of communications, Josh Rawitch.

That’s when Howard Sunkin, McCourt’s advisor who became infamous last month when it was learned he drew a $400,000 salary of the team’s $1.6 million 2007 charity budget, announced to us:

"He’s not speaking right now."

Funny, his lips were moving and everything.

I don’t know, guess Sunkin meant speaking to us.

Not that we’d have anything to talk to Silent Frank about, like his team’s underachieving, stud pitchers traded elsewhere, the team payroll, Russian soothsayers, income taxes or chances of a settlement before the Aug. 30 court date with his soon-to-be ex-wife, Jamie.

Frank then moved on to the fans from El Salvador. Hernandez asked Sunkin if he was talking, and he simply said: "Nope."

And this guy made his mark as a lobbyist? I thought those guys were always talking.

Call it coincidence, but McCourt’s very visible, if silent, stadium appearance came on the same day Times columnist T.J. Simers ragged him for going into hiding.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Dodgers place Ronald Belisario on restricted list for unspecified personal reasons

The mystery of Ronald Belisario.

It deepened Wednesday when the Dodgers put their right-handed reliever on the restricted list.

They said it was for "personal reasons." And that’s all they said. All manager Joe Torre or vice president of communications Josh Rawitch said they even knew.

Not whether it was a family or legal or any other kind of issue. Not if he’ll be gone a day or two, or a month.

"I can’t answer because I don’t know," Torre said. "I have not been told, maybe so I can’t answer your questions."

Which is too bad, because now speculation will fly unabated. If it were simply a family issue, the Dodgers would normally announce that.

So the organization’s lack of openness -- which could be warranted for very different reasons -- will naturally lead to media outlets dusting off last summer’s news when he was arrested in Pasadena for driving under the influence.

That was partially responsible for Belisario showing up a month late from Venezuela to spring training, at which time the Dodgers also placed him on the restricted list while he remained behind in Arizona to get in shape.

His DUI was resolved in March when he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving.

Belisario was ultimately activated on April 21, and has appeared in 35 games with a 1-1 record and 3.79 ERA. If not exactly like last season when he owned a 2.04 ERA, he had still worked himself back into a valuable, late-inning spot in the bullpen’s rotation.

"This takes a big chunk out of it," Torre said. "Especially the fact that he was pretty much a seventh- eighth- ninth-inning guy. Hopefully (Travis) Schlichting can pick up some of the slack."

The rookie Schlichting was likely headed back to triple-A Albuquerque to make room for Carlos Monasterios, who was activated Wednesday, until the mystery of Belisario unfolded.

Torre said Belisario had been nothing but a good citizen since his return in April.
"He hasn’t been an issue," he said. "No disciplinary stuff has gone on. He’s been here for us every day.

"I had no hint of this, and had no conversation regarding this with him."

Torre said he had been warned after Tuesday’s game by general manager Ned Colletti that something was brewing with Belisario.

Now, he said, the Dodgers just have to march on and wait to see what happens with the hard-throwing Belisario.

"We don’t have him," Torre said. "It’s like an injury. You can’t take time to get back on your feet, you have to do it right now."

-- Steve Dilbeck