Dodgers web musings: Ever-changing cast of would-be owners

Keep those scorecards handy, your favorite to become the next Dodgers owner could change which each exhale.

A few hours after Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman wrote that former Dodgers trustee Tom Schieffer was a potential bidder, The Times Bill Shaikin spoke to Schieffer, who quickly shot down the report.

"I don't anticipate bidding on the Dodgers," he said.

Heyman also said Hollywood producer Burt Sugarman and a "mystery New York moneyman" were also interested in pursuing the Dodgers. Sugarman has produced films ("Children of a Lesser God") and TV shows ("The Midnight Special") and is married to Mary Hart of "Entertainment Tonight" fame.

If true, you’d have to add these names to a swelling list: Peter O’Malley, Fred Claire, Steve Garvey, Orel Hershiser, Dennis Gilbert, Magic Johnson, Mark Cuban, Ron Burkle, Eli Broad, Alec Gores, Alan Casden, Joe Torre, Larry King, Oscar De La Hoya, Donald Trump, Casey Wasserman, Tom Golisano, Time-Warner, Fox, the public, the two guys in suits having lunch in the next booth and the still-hanging-in-there Dilbeck Investment Group.

If you live in Los Angeles and don’t personally know someone who wants to buy the Dodgers, you don’t know anybody.

Also on the web:

-- ESPN/LA’s Ramona Shelburne thinks those interested in buying the team with ties to the team -- O’Malley, Claire, Garvey and Hershiser -– would be better served merging. And she adds this painful thought: "Bidding against each other serves only Frank McCourt and his creditors."

-- The South Bay Daily Breeze’s Larry Altman profiles Gilbert, a former Gardena High star, by talking to some lifelong area friends.

-- Hall of Fame baseball writer Ross Newhan, who previously came out in support of Gilbert’s bid, said he also welcomes O’Malley’s entry. Newhan wrote: "It can be said with a degree of certainty that one of his investment partners will be the renowned Eli Broad."

-- Here's a link to a Bloomberg News interview with Sal Galatioto, president of GPS Capital, which brokers deals for professional sports teams, saying he expects there to be 16-18 groups initially making a bid on the Dodgers.

-- The Register’s Howard Cole is miffed that Times writers have written disparagingly about the condition of Dodger Stadium. Cole, however, did email to say he would add his Honda Civic to the Dilbeck Investment group’s bid.

-- Fox Sports’ Joe McDonnell thinks Matt Kemp is the frontrunner for National League most valuable player. I think not.

-- Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown doesn’t have the Dodgers on his list of teams interested in Cuban outfielder Yoennis Cespedes.

-- Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness doesn’t want to hear any talk of the Dodgers trading for the New York Mets’ David Wright.

-- For you stat wonks who can never get enough, Chad Moriyama at True Blue L.A. has a value that compares the salaries of the Dodgers versus how they produced. (Hint: Rafael Furcal wasn’t worth $12 million.)

-- Roberto Baly has a sneak preview of the patch the Dodgers will wear this year in celebration of their 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium, even though next season will be its 51st season.

-- And just in case you were wondering, Jamie McCourt apparently still has a heart for sports, a mind for business and a voice for the community. Says so right on her website.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Potential Dodgers bidder Burt Sugarman is flanked by son A.J., left, and Rabbi Marvin Hier as well as wife Mary Hart, right, at a Director's Guild of America event. Credit: David Livington / Getty Images

Dodgers web musings: Court battle is where the entertainment is

Are we having fun yet?

Nerves appear to become just a tad frayed as the Dodgers’ bankruptcy moves forwards. The big showdown doesn’t even start until Halloween, but already attorneys are sharpening their fangs.

Accusations have been flying the past two days. Turns out calling Major League Baseball’s proposed loan a "deal with the devil" may have must been a mere warmup.

On Tuesday it was MLB again threatening to kick the Dodgers out of the league, Fox threatening not to air their games the final two years of their existing contract and Frank McCourt’s attorney accusing the MLB of choking off McCourt's money supply in a dastardly scheme to oust him as owner.

By Wednesday it was a Fox attorney accusing McCourt of holding their existing TV rights hostage, MLB accusing McCourt of not turning over documents involving an IRS investigation, McCourt’s attorney suggesting MLB and Fox were trying to put off a media rights auction to "chill the market" and a dispute over a mysterious locked cabinet left behind by trustee Tom Schieffer in his former office at Dodger Stadium.

Just wait until Commissioner Bud Selig and McCourt take the witness stand.

Also on the web:

-- Howard Cole makes his case for how James Loney remains with the Dodgers at his blog at the Register.

-- MLB Trade Rumors takes a look at the arbitration cases looming for the Dodgers this winter, and estimates that if Clayton Kershaw wins the Cy Young he’ll earn a record $8.4 million for a first year of eligibility and that Matt Kemp could be looking at a much as a $16.3 million award.

-- The Times’ T.J. Simers finds it curious McCourt is fighting so hard in court to maintain ownership of the team when he’s been almost invisible as the team steward.

-- Josh Fisher at Dodger Divorce wonders exactly what McCourt is fighting for, because even if he should emerge victorious in bankruptcy court, his fan base has deserted him: "There’s nothing left to win."

-- Since Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness doesn’t believe there’s any chance the Dodgers will actually acquire an impact bat, he argues the best way for them to improve is to simply quit giving playing time to lousy players.

-- Chad Moriyama, probably leader of the sabermetrics crowd that worships Matt Kemp, attempts to take an unbiased statistical look at his MVP candidacy and concludes –- are you ready? -– he is the deserving winner.

--  Bryan Stow, the paramedic beaten into a comma on opening day at Dodger Stadium, has left the hospital and been transfer to a rehabilitation facility. His family said in recent weeks he has shown marked improvement and become conversational.

--  D. Clay Best of the Smithfield (N.C.) Herald reports that Jerry Sands plans to wed his high school sweetheart, Morgan Pace, in November and play winter ball in the Dominican Republic.

-- And don’t say Sands isn’t game for a good time. Here’s a video of Sands the superstar in a Dodgers.com video:

-- Steve Dilbeck

Twitter.com/stevedilbeck

Photo: Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

MLB demands that Dodgers reinstate Schieffer [Updated]

The Dodgers must let Tom Schieffer resume his job as the league-appointed trustee, a bankruptcy attorney representing the commissioner's office has demanded.

"The debtors' refusal to permit the monitor to continue performing his duties represents an ongoing violation of the Major League Constitution," said a letter sent Thursday from MLB attorney Thomas Lauria to Dodgers attorney Sidney Levinson.

[Updated at 10:22 a.m.: Levinson declined to comment Friday.]

The Dodgers are unlikely to agree, which could lead to a showdown on the issue in bankruptcy court. In the bankruptcy case, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is essentially challenging the powers of the commissioner's office, including those within the MLB constitution.

When the Dodgers filed for bankruptcy Monday, the team told the league that Schieffer was prohibited from his league-appointed duties under a provision called the "automatic stay," which restricts creditor action upon a bankruptcy filing.

In his letter, Lauria said the Dodgers' interpretation of that rule with regard to Schieffer is "incorrect" and said the commissioner's office demands the team provide Schieffer with "immediate access to the club's facilities and employees."

Schieffer has not worked at Dodger Stadium since Monday's bankruptcy filing.

ALSO:

Dodgers' bankruptcy case could extend into 2012

Dodgers' bankruptcy lawyers to put Bud Selig under oath

-- Bill Shaikin

Photo: Tom Schieffer. Credit: Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times.

Dodgers Web musings: Interleague play no friend to Boys in Blue

The Dodgers make a little interleague stop this weekend in Chicago to play a three-game series against the White Sox, and you’ll forgive the Dodgers if they’re somewhat less than excited.

When playing in an American League park, the National League team gets to add a designated hitter.

As Mike Petriello of MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com points out, if you were this year’s edition of the Dodgers, would you think adding another bat off that bench would prove beneficial?

More bleeding the slow death.

Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com notes that over the last six years, the Dodgers are a miserable 11-37 playing in American League parks. And that was before the Dodgers had this power-challenged bench to pick from.

The whole interleague thing was sort of an interesting novelty when it debuted in 1997, but its charm has long warn off. I’m with the Daily News’ Vincent Bonsignore, who states clearly: "I’m done with interleague play.’’

Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci understands those like Bonsignore and myself, but instead of ditching it completely, has come up with four suggestions to modify it.

Also on the Web:

Dodgers Web Musings: MLB names John Allen as new assistant for Tom Schieffer

Wild guess: I’m thinking Major League Baseball made sure John Allen had no previous relationship with Frank or Jamie McCourt before naming him to assist Tom Schieffer in his overview of the Dodgers’ finances.

Commissioner Bud Selig originally named Dick Freeman, the former Padres president, to assist Schieffer. That lasted a few hours, or until it was learned Freeman had advised Jamie during divorce proceedings last year.

Allen is the former chief operating officer of the Reds. Schieffer was due back in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Also on the Web:

-- The Los Angeles Times reports Bryan Stow, the Giants fan brutally beaten on opening day, was  scheduled to be transferred from Los Angeles to a San Francisco hospital Monday. He remains in critical condition.

-- ESPN/LA’s Tony Jackson says the Dodgers offense is lifeless and in need of repair.

-- The Times’ Jim Peltz offers a small ray of positive news, noting Aaron Miles has given the Dodgers an unexpected offensive contribution.

-- Fox Sports’ Joe McDonnell profiles the Dodgers’ other scrappy utility player now making regular contributions, Jamey Carroll.

Dodgers Web musings: Long before Kuo's struggles, there was Steve Blass

This is not an encouraging story for Hong-Chih Kuo, and there are plenty of those out there.

But ESPN/LA's Tony Jackson talked to ex-Pirates pitcher Steve Blass, who suffered the same kind of sudden, unexplainable inability to throw a ball where he wanted that has landed Kuo on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder.

Blass lost control in 1973, in what was such a classic case of the "yips’’ it is now often called the Steve Blass Disease.

Blass, unfortunately, never did recover.

"I never fully understood what happened,’’ he said. "But I was lucky in that it was toward the back of a career in which I already had done far more than I ever dreamed of. I tell people if that happened to me today, I would just go to Harvard Medical School and say, 'Fix me.' But that was a different era.’’

Also on the Web:

-- The Orange County Register’s Landon Hall talks to a clinical psychologist to discuss Kuo and how his stress compares to the rest of us in the workplace.

-- The Times’ Bill Shaikin reports on Commissioner Bud Selig’s meeting with the press Thursday in New York, where he denies MLB is dragging its feet on the investigation of the Dodgers’ finances.

-- Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman came away from the meetings convinced Frank McCourt is a solitary figure among other owners and is running out of time.

--  Selig’s monitor, Tom Schieffer, tells the Associated Press that  are composed of 26 interlocking companies and calls his task "daunting,’’ with video.

Frank McCourt: When desperate times call for desperate measures, lots of them

"Irish" Frank McCourt is swinging in so many directions, it’s a wonder he’s not dizzy. Then again …

To say McCourt is a desperate man is to say the Mississippi is running just a tad high.

Plead your case to the media? Lose the team but keep the stadium as their landlord? Fire off a nasty letter complaining that a newly appointed assistant to the Major League Baseball trustee has ties to the ex-wife (who claims half-ownership of the team)? File bankruptcy to ward off a complete takeover? Appeal to other owners how you’ve been wronged?

There’s no landing a punch if you can’t get your feet under you.

McCourt’s strategy is apparently the ol' throw-enough-against-the-wall-and-see-if-something-sticks approach. Me, I just see it all slipping away.

MLB owners are having their quarterly meetings Wednesday and Thursday in New York, and The Times’ Bill Shaikin reports that McCourt will arrive trying to uncover eight owners willing to tell Commissioner Bud Selig to end his takeover of the Dodgers.

Wrote Shaikin: "If McCourt gets a vote from any owner besides himself, call it an upset."

ESPN’s Buster Olney likewise doesn't think much of McCourt’s chances of usurping Selig, a notorious consensus-builder.

 

Frank McCourt's lawyer rips MLB for appointing Dodgers monitor with ties to Jamie McCourt

During a Monday morning radio appearance in New York, Commissioner Bud Selig announced that he had appointed former San Diego Padres President Dick Freeman as an assistant to Dodgers trustee Tom Schieffer. Within hours, Major League Baseball had rescinded the appointment, citing only a "potential conflict."

The conflict: Freeman advised Jamie McCourt last year, during her divorce proceedings against Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, according to a letter sent Tuesday from Robert Sacks, an attorney for Frank McCourt, to Brad Ruskin, an attorney representing MLB.

"Unfortunately, this latest episode reinforces the concern that Mr. McCourt is being subjected to discriminatory and unfair treatment," Sacks wrote, "through a process designed to reach a predetermined outcome, without appropriate diligence, independence or care."

In the letter, Sacks said that Freeman met with Dodgers personnel on Monday. Those staff members had been told Freeman already had reviewed confidential Dodgers financial information, Sacks wrote.

Jamie McCourt has asked the judge overseeing the divorce case to order Frank McCourt to provide the Dodgers' most recent financial data. That request is pending.

MLB denied that Freeman had access to any of the Dodgers' confidential financial information.

"Once the potential conflict was brought to our attention by Mr. Freeman, we immediately determined not to proceed with his appointment," MLB Executive Vice President Rob Manfred said in a statement.

-- Bill Shaikin

Photo: Jamie McCourt. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Frank McCourt and the disaster that is Steve Soboroff

Frank McCourt needs to put a leash on Steve Soboroff, or a muzzle. Or give him a pink slip, something at which McCourt has proved very adept.

The more Soboroff talks, the happier you should be he was never elected mayor. He is out of control, mind-boggling, managing to make an incredibly horrid situation worse. Must be a genuine skill.

Soboroff, the Dodgers' new vice chairman of embarrassing comments, was on the job an entire two seconds when he was claiming to know more about baseball financing that Commissioner Bud Selig, who of course, also used to own a team.

He called Major League Baseball's move to take control of the Dodgers "irresponsible," like he would know. He has zero credibility on anything to do with the Dodgers. Understand? Zero.

Dodgers Web musings: Checking in on the team-record 31-game hitting streak of Willie Davis

Willie Davis, something of a hitting chameleon, is the last man standing in the way of Andre Ethier as he closes in on the Dodgers’ all-time hitting streak.

The Times’ Ben Bolch takes a look at Davis’ 31-game hitting streak set in 1969, when he tried to emulate the hitting style of Matty Alou.

Ethier, who sat out Wednesday’s game with a sore elbow, will take a 29-game hitting streak -- which ties him with Zack Wheat (1919) for second in club history -- into his next at-bat.

The Dodgers open a three-game series Friday against the Mets in New York.

Also on the Web:

-- Manager Don Mattingly sounded a tad more irritated with Ethier’s elbow problem -- he hurt it on April 16 -- when he spoke to the Daily News’ Tom Hoffarth than he did earlier when he met with reporters after Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to the Cubs:

"I'm not sure why two weeks later it's now starting to bother him, or why he hasn't been getting treatment and might allow this thing to mushroom into something bigger. I just don't know, if it keeps on hurting."

-- In a video blog (yep, they have such things), ESPN’s Buster Olney says other MLB owners are wondering how Frank McCourt, at a time when most teams are flush and with all his resources, can have a cash-flow problem.