Farewell, Condolences and Many Happy Returns

In a series in which not enough went right, on a night when almost nothing did, I still found myself nursing hope in the ninth inning.

And then once again, a fly ball from the Dodgers went all the way to the wall without going over. And that told the story.

That's the season. My despair came Monday. Tonight, I'm inclined to say that it was a good ride while it lasted. Not all of it, certainly. I could live without some of the frustration. But I'll have good memories. Most of them, of course, will be those that I shared with you. Thanks again - in my mind, you folks are a World Champion baseball community.

* * *

I had planned on saving this for Thursday, but I know people are already eager or anxious to talk about 2009. So here's a rough 2009 payroll worksheet, with my usual caveat that most figures are estimates (some are wild estimates) but will be updated as information comes in. Feel free to leave any corrections in the comments, and I'll update sometime Thursday.

This is not a prediction of the 2009 Opening Day roster. Again, it's just a worksheet, based on what the roster could look like if next season started tomorrow:

*Rough salary estimate

Starting Pitchers (5)
$10,000,000 Hiroki Kuroda
$9,250,000 Brad Penny
*$475,000 Chad Billingsley
*$415,000 Clayton Kershaw
*$400,000 James McDonald
*Total: $20,540,000
Note: Team can buy out Penny's 2009 option for $2,500,000

Bullpen (7)
*$2,500,000 Takashi Saito
*$1,300,000 Scott Proctor
*$750,000 Jonathan Broxton
*$425,000 Hong-Chih Kuo
*$420,000 Cory Wade
*$410,000 Ramon Troncoso
*$400,000 Scott Elbert
Total: $6,205,000

Also on 40-man roster:
Mario Alvarez
Yhency Brazoban
Greg Miller
Justin Orenduff
Eric Stults

Starting Lineup (8)
$17,100,000 Andruw Jones
*$700,000 Russell Martin
*$625,000 Andre Ethier
*$600,000 Matt Kemp
*$600,000 James Loney
*$410,000 Blake DeWitt
*$400,000 Tony Abreu
*$400,000 Chin-Lung Hu
Total: $20,835,000

Bench (5)
$10,000,000 Juan Pierre
$1,200,000 Pablo Ozuna
*$600,000 Jason Repko
*$410,000 Delwyn Young
*$400,000 Danny Ardoin
Total: $12,610,000
Note: Team can buy out Ozuna's 2009 option for $200,000

Also on 40-man roster:
A.J. Ellis
Lucas May
Xavier Paul

Disabled List
$12,000,000 Jason Schmidt

Also Paying ...
$50,000 Gary Bennett (buyout of $900,000 option)
Note: Kansas City is responsible for $500,000 buyout of Angel Berroa's $5,500,000 option for 2009.

Working total: *$72,240,000

It seems possible that the Dodgers might have in the neighborhood of $50 million to help improve this collection of players. Top issues:

The outfield spot that would be held by Jones and Pierre.

The DeWitt-Hu-Abreu (or if you prefer, Ivan DeJesus, Jr.) infield next to Loney.

The pitching slot held by Penny.

Might the Dodgers add a $10 million player, a $15 million player and a $25 million player in terms of 2009 salary? We'll see ...

Comments

[Tripon]

1.  Dodgers didn't pick up Ozuna on waivers did they? I thought they picked up Ozuna after he cleared them.

[dodgerkramer1]

2.  As I look ahead to 2009, I came up with a list of offseason "gifts" I would present to various Dodger players:

To Chad Billingsley, I would give a short memory. Bills is our best starting pitcher, one of the best in the NL, and he just needs to forget about the two stinkers he produced in the NLCS and focus on the many, many good outings he gave us throughout the season.

I would give Jon Broxton a better secondary pitch, and a fitness guru. Brox throws nearly 100 mph, but his slider is a very inconsistent pitch with not much movement. The 300-pounder needs to get in better shape in order to improve his mechanics. That will allow him to have better command — with his fastball, he should throw nothing but strikes.

I would give Hong-Chih Kuo a healthy offseason and a healthy 2009. He's quite possibly my favorite Dodger. He's the biggest surprise of the season and one of the game's most overpowering relief pitchers, period. May his arm stay in one piece.

James Loney will receive brand-new weight equipment and supplements. Thirteen homers in 595 at-bats just ain't gonna cut it. He can hit 30, and this team needs that from him.

Matt Kemp: I'd give him a higher "Baseball IQ," and more quality at-bats. Still too many baserunning mistakes, and he struck out WAY too much for a guy with only 18 homers. His outfield play was a nice, nice surprise, though. He's gonna be a great player — let's just hope he figures it out sooner rather than later.

Andre Ethier: This is a tough one. He had the best season of any Dodger youngster, and I can't put my finger on what he needs most. Probably just a good hitter batting behind him in the lineup.

Russell Martin receives a better backup catcher. Martin should catch no more than 140 games next season.

Cory Wade/James McDonald: A fair chance to earn spots in the Dodger starting rotation. Unless Wade is absolutely needed in the bullpen.

Blake DeWitt: An everyday spot in the lineup, either at third base or second base. How can you not like this guy?

Rafael Furcal: A contract of some kind with L.A. I don't think we have a choice but to gamble that his back will be healthy.

Jeff Kent/Nomar: Happy retirements.

Juan Pierre/Casey Blake: A team that's willing to let them play every day. It CAN'T be the Dodgers.

Ned Colletti: The Dodgers GM needs to get a power bat. Maybe that's Manny. Maybe it's Andruw Jones. Maybe it's someone else. Colletti also needs a front-line starting pitcher or two. I realize that power bats and good starting pitchers don't grow on trees.

[kinbote]

3.  Oh goodie. Something to print out at work tomorrow and put on the clipboard under the agenda. [Don't tell!] You're the man, Jon.

[bigcpa]

4.  The oracle that is Steve Phillips thinks the Dodgers are the frontrunners for CC and cites his new house in Orange County. I wonder whether a quick Manny signing would help recruit CC or whether a CC signing would help resign Manny. Either way it's a great window of opportunity to line up two elite players with a core of cheap talent. I would even go young and defense-first at SS if we can pull off the CC/Manny exacta.

[JRSarno]

5.  "Top issues"

The attempt to resign Manny Ramirez? I'm curious: by this somewhat conspicuous absence, is the implication that it's not a "top issue" because it's outside the realm of fiscal probability?

[JRSarno]

6.  As upsetting as this situation is, McDonald was really a huge positive in this whole series!

[Lexinthedena]

7.  Thanks Jon for a great 2008. This was a fun season, and it's nice that the Dodgers are once again relevant.

For PR, and baseball reasons, Manny has to be re-signed unless a team like the Yanks goes overboard.

This will be a very fun off season, and I can't wait to follow the hot stove with the DT community.

[AshburnAlley]

8.  As a Phillies fan, and board newbie, I want to congratulate the Dodgers on a great season and a well-played series. Believe me, I did not expect a 5 game series, the Phillies got some breaks and excellent pitching. And Manny, well, he earned his money. Cheers!

[JRSarno]

9.  Curious what people think is needed "most" to improve us for next season, if it's even possible to say that one is more necessary than the other: more offensive pop, or a stronger rotation?

[bhsportsguy]

10.  8 Thanks, good luck to you, for the most part, my interactions with Philly fans at the Stadium was good natured and fun.

[trainwreck]

11.  10
Who did not see the Reeves Nelson football injury coming?

[trainwreck]

12.  9
Pop for sure. We already got 4 of our starters (Bills, Kuroda, Kershaw, McDonald). We just need to sign or trade for one more starter, plus we have some depth with Stults, Elbert, and Schmidt.

We have a whole at third that we really have no answer to (I prefer DeWitt at second). We have an hole in the outfield, because I am not counting on Jones or Pierre. We at least have a few options at short.

[DBrim]

13.  I think Furcal may have lowered his asking price tonight. He might end up being a good deal, but he's not the long-term solution we need and he's injury-prone.

If it means we can get Sabathia, I'd rather sign Adam Dunn than Manny.

[JRSarno]

14.  5 - My bad, Jon. I get so excited by bullet points, I neglected the last sentence... it'll be interesting where McCourt goes. With all the talk of "restoring" a championship atmosphere to Los Angeles, he'd be hard-pressed to not do his part and make a good faith attempt at resigning Manny. But that interview on FSN after the game with Manny and McCourt respectively seemed to set the stage rather predictably. Manny was very non-committal, "I'm just gonna go home, we'll see what happens..." -- his usual "whatever" self. Whereas McCourt indicated that it "takes two to tango." I can see that if McCourt fails to resign Manny, he'll be attributing that failure to Manny's fickle disposition (oh, and Scott Boras)...

[Wen]

15.  The ending isn't the best, but it's been a great season. It was fun following the ups and downs of the Dodgers here with everyone (although I hardly ever post). Thanks to Jon for the site.

[Gold Star for Robot Boy]

16.  Congrats, Phillies. This was no fluke, as you're the better team.
As for my Dodgers, I am unsure as to how I feel about their elimination. More accurately, I am unsure why I do not feel as a long-time fan should.
Looking at the whole season, I have to say there was an element of unreality to it.
For 3-1/2 months, watching this team was agony on a nightly basis. The Dodgers weren't bad enough to be counted out from contention in an awful division, but not good enough to overcome the slightly less-worse D-backs. For weeks on end, it seemed, LA was about four games out and going nowhere.
A mid-July series win at Arizona pulled the Dodgers into a tie and put a charge into my hopes, yet the team seemed ready to spit the bit at any moment.
Then came the Manny trade. What nobody will remember is that LA lost 15 of its first 26 games with him in the lineup. Yes, he was smacking the crap out of the ball and single-handedly had dragged the team back into the national media's spotlight but... so? We still sucked.
Now, it's unlikely to have a team make a stretch-drive push without another club making a stretch-drive fade. And, living in Phoenix, I watched both unfold simultaneously - Snakes on TV, Dodgers on the computer. From Aug. 29 until the afternoon of Sept. 25, there was a nine-game swing in the standings. LA went 18-5 while AZ stumbled to a 10-15 record.
And that was the unreal part, which continued into the NLDS. My team turned into world-beaters overnight, but with the same players (save for Manny and Blake) that had done nothing but play mediocre ball for the better part of a season. When Furcal came back for the playoffs, that cemented within me a feeling of Who are these guys?
That's why I couldn't celebrate too much when they advanced in the playoffs for the first time in 20 years. And that's why I can't feel more than a slight sense of disappointment tonight. This team became unfamiliar and foreign just when my bond should've grown strongest. I've been following baseball since 1985, and I've never experienced anything like it.

[Gold Star for Robot Boy]

17.  (I wrote the above for my blog, so that's why I'm explaining details you already know.)

[waterboy100]

18.  0 2
great posts thanks for the reading.

to all you guys i want to say that this has been a great year and since it is my first year with you guys i hope that there is some sort of offseason activity on the blog.

secondl, to jon thanks for all the posts and the time taken out what seems to be a busy life to make a very interesting corner of the internet for us dodger fans.

[Linkmeister]

19.  Bah. Out with a whimper, not with a bang.

Oh well.

I feel sorry for Billingsley, for Furcal (what a night! Willie Davis, please call the poor guy!), for Wade and Broxton for the awfulness of the 8th inning the other night, for Blake, who probably will see fly balls landing just short of the wall in Victorino's glove in his sleep, and for DeWitt (how many DPs did he hit into in this series?).

The composite box will be interesting to look at. The absolute ineptitude of the cleanup position, which McCarver/Buck kept pointing out, was dreadful to behold.

Next year we'll have about 18 of these guys back, I imagine. I hope it's the right 18.

[silverwidow]

20.  Arbitration eligibles:

Martin (Super Two) ~$5 million
Ethier (Super Two) ~$3 million
Broxton ~$2 million

That's $10 million less to work with.

[68elcamino427]

21.  Time to begin dusting off the old hot stove already?

Congrats to the Phillies - they played great.

As for the future ... stay focused ... Martin Loney Kemp

[thinkblue88]

22.  Thank you Dodgers.
It was the most fun I've ever had as a Dodger fan. And to Jon and everyone else here at DT, thanks for a great season.

[waterboy100]

23.  18 eh..i forgot to say: go rays go.

[Dark Horse]

24.  13-The gap between Manny and Dunn is just huge. Dunn is nowhere near as good, in any capacity.

This team is severely challenged, offensively. They could sign Dunn, or Pat Burrell--they could sign Manny--and still have significant holes. Their rotation, likewise (assuming Lowe's departure). Their bullpen is fragile physically (Kuo, Elbert, Saito (?)), and perhaps mentally. I haven't been this pessimistic about the team in a good while. I fear a few water-treading signings (Furcal, Blake or some equivalent) and offensive decline. That's...very poor. If I were truthful, I'd want an upgrade at first, third, catcher perhaps (heretical I know, but Martin lacks power like the rest of our club), the retention of Manny AND a Sabathia. Hey, maybe we'll sign those two AND Texiera, but I sort of doubt it.

Ned's bungling comes home to roost at last.

[bhsportsguy]

25.  24 Ned's bungling has put the Dodgers in the post-season twice in his first three years.

Yes, you can point out the faults but to think the team got there in spite of him is not fair.

[LOB]

26.  Thanks, Dodgers, for a great - if weird - season. I loved every nail-biting minute of it.

And special thanks to Jon, this amazing site, and all the DT posters. I have learned so much about the finer points of baseball here, and your posts have really expanded my understanding and enjoyment of the game.

I made it last year to the gathering (where McCourt held, errr, court) but missed the whiffle ball picnic this year. I hope to see and actually dare speak to some of you guys next year.

I especially delighted in seeing the young core guys get to play this year and will never forget Martin and Kemp leaping into the stands after we swept the Cubs.

Can't wait to see what happens next.

[DBrim]

27.  24 - It may be huge now, but what about when Manny isn't playing for a contract. I'm still worried about him later, especially since our ownership is definitely dysfunctional at time.

I think Loney is an outstanding first baseman and I would be truly upset if we sign Texiera. He kicked butt this series, too, and in my mind, he should have been hitting clean-up. Martin doesn't have enough power to play third base. He's a decent defensive catcher, and will show offensive improvement if Torre learns to sit him once a week.

[Rob M]

28.  24 You're a little over the top with the gloom. The rotation and bullpen are strengths and will remain so. Are there flaws in the pitching staff? Of course? Are they greater than that of other good staffs? I don't think so.

The glaring problem is the need for more power in the lineup. That might come from a combination of Manny, a 3rd baseman to be named and improvements from Loney, Kemp, Martin and Ethier. There is a lot of variability there - after Manny there isn't really another great option, save for Teixiera (would he play LF?) After wathing Manny go Bondsian the last few months, it'll be hard to settle for less.

[still bevens]

29.  I still say had we kept LaRoche we would still have a big question mark at third. The kid was horrible this year and I say this as a big LaRoche backer earlier in the season.

[Gold Star for Robot Boy]

30.  Ned is coming back, sayeth the Times.
http://tinyurl.com/3f5pkh

Ned Colletti will return as the Dodgers' general manager next season, club owner Frank McCourt said Wednesday.
McCourt had declined to discuss the issue all season, even after the Dodgers clinched the National League West championship. However, after the Dodgers lost in the National League Championship Series, McCourt said Colletti would be back.

[bablue]

31.  Thanks so much Jon for a great season!!! Hopefully this offseason will be great as well!

Please sign either Manny or CC and I'll feel okay at least, regardless of what we do otherwise. (Both would be nice too.) ;-)

[DBrim]

32.  30 - They said that about Grady Little last year, too.

[silverwidow]

33.  30 I hope that is just a smokescreen.

DePo got the same treatment before he was canned around Halloween.

[CanuckDodger]

34.  32 -- But Grady Little quit, he wasn't fired. And even if you believe that official story is a lie, and that Little was pushed out as soon as Torre became an option, there is no "star GM" comparable to Torre who will be available to push out Colletti.

[LogikReader]

35.  Listen to ESPN Radio right now.

I forever hate ESPN.

(I know... "What took you so long?")

[DBrim]

36.  34 - We have two that can do a better job within our own organization.

[bhsportsguy]

37.  33 There are a lot of differences between 2005 and 2008.

1. Dodgers are not replacing their manager.
2. Dodgers finished their most successful season, in terms of advancing in the playoffs in 20 years and did it by defeating the team with the best record in the NL.
3. With this run, the media will not be writing negative stories about GM.

[bhsportsguy]

38.  36 There is no evidence that is true, plus to some extent, any moves ,though final say is with Ned (and McCourt), were made with input from Kim Ng and Logan White.

[CanuckDodger]

39.  33 -- DePo was coming off a 71-win season. Colletti is coming off the best season a Dodger team has had in TWENTY years.

Please, let's just stop with the denial

[Eric Stephen]

40.  Amy K. Nelson (or is it AmyP Nelson?) is on ESPN Radio spewing her lies about Billingsley throwing Martin under the bus regarding pitch selection. This, despite the fact that Dylan Hernandez, someone who covered the team all year, covered the same postgame last week and had a completely different view.

I can't wait until the DT picnic 2009 just to hear Molly vent, unshackled by the bonds of the internet.

[LogikReader]

41.  Between you and me, I want the Phillies to get swept. They are getting way too much credit this week, and the Rays aren't getting enough credit.

The Phillies have one good starting pitcher. One! Their bullpen isn't going to be enough to get them through games. Their 7-9 hitters aren't hitting .400 against the Rays. The Rays front line starters are terrific. The Rays have a more balanced lineup that can put runs up in multiple innings, not just one big inning.

It's early to do predictions, but I have to think it's Rays in 5 (or 4).

[LogikReader]

42.  40

Oh that's right! This is the same person we speak of isn't it?

and yea, see 35

[LogikReader]

43.  Is Molly really going to the DT picnic? And Jon? and Bob? and Eric(s)? I am so there!

[Eric Stephen]

44.  42
Yeah, I didn't see your 35 as I was posting in a blind rage. I actually normally like the All Night guy (Jason Smith) but Amy Nelson is on my list. I need to figure out a creative device to display the people I hate.

[bhsportsguy]

45.  40 I'm listening to NPR archives now, a wonderful series on great composers.

Amazingly, I did not see Billingsley pitch at all this postseason. So I have no frame of reference of what happened.

It is certainly possible for two people to be at the same event and have two entirely different recollections about it.

But, since Billingsley has probably thrown more pitches to Martin than any other person in his life, I have hard time believing that he would "throw him under the bus."

[silverwidow]

46.  39 Yes, I am in denial. Complete denial that McCourt is satisfied enough with Ned's fiscally irresponsible performance as GM to let him continue another year with two viable replacements available (Ng & White).

I will gladly admit to being wrong it two weeks if he's still GM.

[LOB]

47.  Wow.

I was feeling pretty okay about things. Then I decided to read Mike's Baseball Rants. Now I'm upset.

I don't think I'll make that mistake again. He makes me hate the Phillies, if he's any example of their fans. Yuck.

I'm more grateful than ever to Jon.

I'm going to bed.

[Bob Timmermann]

48.  RIP, Edie Adams.

Say hi to Ernie for all of us.

[bhsportsguy]

49.  46 What you (and others) see as being "fiscally irresponsible" is probably what most owners see as the cost of doing business in professional sports.

Though it could appear that GMs are let go when they sign bad deals or make bad trades, in the end, its about wins and losses.

Now, wins and losses are a difficult statistic to quantify, even methods using run differential may not accurately predict what is going to happen.

But Ned got just enough to make his 4th year. Now, I have said for a few months now, either fire Ned or extend him, don't let him be a lame duck GM. Right now, it looks like he will be in the same position as Brian Cashman was this year. We'll see if he shares Cashman's fate at the end of 2009.

[LogikReader]

50.  44

I'm with you on that, Eric. I'm a big fan of Jason Smith... ah well, I'll just let this blow over. He's a Mets fan too, so what do you expect?

His bit on Pacman Jones yesterday was hilarious...

[Linkmeister]

51.  I'm a National League guy, but not this year. It doesn't have anything to do with the Phillies, though; the Rays are just too good a story. Worst to first! 10 years of last-place finishes! Compelling young players! Guys who've been on this previously-awful team forever now find themselves winning!

Besides, they're not the Red Sox, of whom I'm heartily sick. Just four years after their ascendancy they've become the Yankees in terms of arrogance and fan obnoxiousness.

[bhsportsguy]

52.  50 I make it a rule to stay away from sportstalk after my team loses for at least a day, sometimes more.

I'll probably listen to music and NPR at least until the Lakers dominate the LA sports scene once again.

[Eric Stephen]

53.  I'm rooting for Xeifrank to win his 150-1 wager.

[trainwreck]

54.  40
Seriously! I almost want to guarantee I will be at next DT Day just to hear Molly go off.

[Eric Stephen]

55.  52
until the Lakers dominate the LA sports scene once again

Maybe during the weekdays until December. The weekends belong to a team that will win me a Manny jersey shirt. :)

[trainwreck]

56.  52
Holiday predicting National Championships, I love it!

[trainwreck]

57.  BTW, I am still going to grow my hair out until at least the end of the month.

[Eric Stephen]

58.  54
We're probably building this up way too much.

For instance, I thought Bob Timmermann was 7 feet tall and could shoot fireballs out of his arse. I was sorely disappointed.

[Bob Timmermann]

59.  55
I predict that the team Eric is talking about will finish its season with back to back wins...

In Pasadena.

[Eric Stephen]

60.  57
Truth be told, I actually shaved the playoff beard last night. I decided the Dodgers needed to go into "all business" mode, plus 7 weeks of growth was getting kind of unruly.

I accept full blame for tonight's loss.

[Eric Stephen]

61.  59
I would be absolutely pleased with that. But I really want that Manny t-shirt!

[bhsportsguy]

62.  61 I wonder if I need to buy it now or should I hope there will be a reason for them to stock them in December.

[Eric Stephen]

63.  There were only two instances (prior to the postseason) of four straight Billingsley/Lowe starts without a win for the Dodgers this season:

May 23-31: Cards-@Cubs-@Cubs-@Mets
July 31-Aug 10: Ari-@Stl-@Stl-@SF

[Eric Stephen]

64.  62
Hold off. Let's reserve the right to name the shirt (should Manny not sign).

[trainwreck]

65.  58
You only think that because Amy Nelson is dead to you.

[trainwreck]

66.  I imagine Manny will be in NY whether it is Yanks or Mets. We will not win a bidding war with them.

I can totally see Hank Steinbrenner taking Manny out of spite. Plus, he is good.

[stubbs]

67.  I agree the Yankees benefit in so many ways by bringing Manny home. I think he is ours to lose if not for Hank.

Are those "super two" figures accurate? Do all 3 of them qualify?

[trainwreck]

68.  Billy Murray looks so old it depresses me.

[trainwreck]

69.  Damn, Billy Murray can belt it out.

[Bob Timmermann]

70.  This was in the AP story:
Furcal's double error was the highlight — rather lowlight — of the Dodgers' misfortunes. He misplayed Pat Burrell's grounder in the hole, then kicked it before throwing the ball way over catcher Russell Martin as Maddux failed to back up the play.

From looking at the replay, Maddux was heading over to a spot between home and third which is where I assume the pitcher should be backing up on such a play. However, Furcal's throw home went to the first base side of home and then careened around the screen and toward the first base dugout.

Also, the play happened very quickly so it would have been hard for Maddux to be in the right place. Because the ball was not in the "right" place.

[Connector]

71.  A big thanks to Jon and to all the DT posters. I am a once-in-a-blue-moon commentor but I read Jon's posts everyday, and everyone's posts after big games, such as the D-back and NLDS series' wins.

2008 was a great year for the Dodgers. The boys excelled despite injuries to key players and the changing-of-the-guard transition from veteran to young guys.
The Dodgers loss in the NLCS, while frustrating, is an incredible learning experience which the team can draw on for lessons and inspiration in 2009.

See you then!

[ChemicalMachine]

72.  Here's to another beautiful, frustrating, enchanting and bewildering season of baseball. I'd be lying to say I wasn't gutted by these series losses, but that pain will eventually fade and I'll take comfort in the fact that I'll be left with quite a few sweet (and bittersweet) Dodger memories from this year. A couple of things that'll stand out -

* Racing from Ventura County to a game and getting to my seat just in time to see Manny hit his first home run in Dodger Blue.
* Watching Clayton pitch his first game with the Dodgers.
* Getting a horrible sunburn watching the first Dodger Spring Training games in Arizona and drinking tequila with my brother after those games while spending hours talking about the upcoming season.
* Seeing Stults pitch that shutout against the ChiSox while sitting in the midst of rabid ChiSox fans at the Ravine.
* Having to buy a dozen fellow Dodger fans a round at my local in Ojai after Juan hit that homerun... I've never grinned so much about losing a bet.
* Vin's call of that clinching game against the Cubbies.

There are dozens of other things I'll remember. As much as the end of this season hurts, the Dodgers gave me so much this year to combat all the little (and big) griefs life deals out. Here's to an off-season of wondering and debating and hoping. 2009 is a blank slate in which anything at all can happen. I cannot wait.

[old dodger fan]

73.  The sun did come up this morning.

[D4P]

74.  Andruw will make roughly $49,000 today.

[old dodger fan]

75.  74 Manny's unemployed.

[D4P]

76.  Is there no justice*?

*Other than David

[old dodger fan]

77.  At least in baseball there is justice.

You play the game and somebody wins and somebody loses based on how many runs you score. We can argue about who was better or who got the "breaks" but the team with the most runs wins.

Expanding the justice topic beyond sports does not work so well and I'm bordering on a Rule 5 violation so I'll let it go at that.

[East Coast Dodger]

78.  Jon, I want to add to the chorus of praise for your help in my enjoyment of this season. I can't wait for next year! My interest in, and knowledge of, the Dodgers has increased because of this site! Thanks!

[East Coast Dodger]

79.  Question for those who know: Is Blake Dewitt even an average 2B offensively and defensively? The defense may be more subjective. I have just started using Baseball Reference, so I am still bumbling my way around there. But how does DeWitt's offensive performance stack up against the average 2B? It is my subjective sense that he will be below average if he repeats this year's performance.

[Hollywood Joe]

80.  When I quickly looked at the post title I saw "Manny Happy Returns"...what do you think a shrink would say about that?

I loved Manny and the trade from day one, but I dont see how we sign him unless the market for him somehow crashes. I guess that is possible, I am having a hard to finding a team right now that he is a good fit for and can afford him...

[D4P]

81.  I am having a hard to finding a team right now that he is a good fit for and can afford him

Yankees.

[Sushirabbit]

82.  I can see Manny not wanting to go back to the east coast. Of course, he'll have to pull an A-rod on Boras. Lowe on the other hand probably would like to return to that side of the baseball world.

[Disabled List]

83.  Couple of notes:

- I also shaved my playoff beard last night. It wasn't working for the first four games of the series, so I just came to grips with the fact that the Dodgers' play has nothing to do with my facial hair growth, strange as that sounds.

- The Dodgers caught all the breaks in the Cubs series, and got absolutely none of them in the Phillies series.

- Billingsley has to be earning more that $475K next season, right? This was his 3rd year.

- The Dodger infield next year is really going to suck. And there really is no way the Dodgers can sign both Manny and CC.

- When the Manny trade went down, some of us feared that it would lead to a playoff run that would ultimately fall short, would leave us without Manny and LaRoche in 2009, and would allow Ned Colletti to save his job. Looks like that's exactly what's gonna happen.

- I simply can't root for another undeserving World Series championship for a team from the state of Florida. The Red Sox, of course, go without saying. Go Phillies!

[Ken Noe]

84.  Kurkjian thinks its Mets or Dodgers, but either way Manny gets less than he wants. He adds that the real question is how much McCourt actually can afford.

[Ken Noe]

85.  By the way, I'm more down about Ned's return than the actual loss. But at least there's no talk yet of an extension.

Plus this from Plaschke: keep the kids together, build next season around Ethier, Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, Jonathan Broxton and, yes, Billingsley and DeWitt. I know, I never thought I'd say that, I'm the last one in town to see the light, but at times it has been delightfully blinding. The scars of this series will disappear. Their incredible growth during the second half of this season will not

[D4P]

86.  When the Manny trade went down, some of us feared that it would lead to a playoff run that would ultimately fall short, would leave us without Manny and LaRoche in 2009, and would allow Ned Colletti to save his job. Looks like that's exactly what's gonna happen

Ned's devious scheme worked to perfection. He succeeded well enough to keep his job, but not so well that his allegiance to the Giants was seriously damaged. Plus, his status as Sabean's mole is intact. They all must be very happy.

But as far as LaRoche goes, I think a fork can be stuck in him.

[JoeyP]

87.  Prioritized:

1. CC Sabathia (6yrs 140mils) 20 mils for 09' (backloaded..since Druw/Schmidt both come off after 2009)
2. Mark Texiera (5yrs 100 mils) 15 mils for 09'
3. Pat Burrell (2yrs 25 mils) 12.5 mils
4. Joe Crede (2yrs 15 mils) 7.5 mils

3rd base is a gigantic hole. No one in the organization can play it, & there's not much on the free agent market. I hope the Dodgers draft a 3rd basemen in the 2009 draft. Its too bad Brett Wallace didnt fall to them last year.

Lineup:
C - Martin
CF - Kemp
1b - Teixeira
LF - Burrell
RF - Ethier
3b - Crede
2b - Dewitt
SS - DeJesus

Starters:
#1. Sabathia
#2. Billingsley
#3. Kershaw
#4. Kuroda
#5. Penny

With depth - Kuo, McDonald ready to fill in.

[JoeyP]

88.  When the Manny trade went down, some of us feared that it would lead to a playoff run that would ultimately fall short, would leave us without Manny and LaRoche in 2009, and would allow Ned Colletti to save his job. Looks like that's exactly what's gonna happen.

Thats true. However, as long as McCourt doesnt extend Ned's contract, I dont have a problem in bringing him back for 2009.

2009 has some large holes. Its not likely the team will be very good. Therefore, it'd make sense to give Ned the 2009 year & then fire him afterwards. Rather than bring in a new person, have that person struggle~ & then McCourt would look to replace the new guy as well.

With so many veteran free agents this off-season & the team in clear transition, let Ned take the fall for the 2009 record. Dont bring in a new guy to clean up the mess just yet.

[D4P]

89.  Can't see Ned signing Burrell.

[Terry A]

90.  Prior to last night's game, my Dodger free agent keeper list included Furcal and, gulp, picking up Penny's option.

But then I saw what looked like Furcal dogging it chasing after the ground ball he (literally) booted, which allowed Utley to score. Did my eyes deceive me? It looked like he was barely jogging after it.

And after this series, I'm a big Utley fan.

[Ken Noe]

91.  If Manny leaves: Martin (C), Loney (1B), DeWitt (2B), Hu/DeJesus/Furcal @ 1 yr (SS), Crede or someone similar (3B), Jones/Pierre, Kemp, Ethier (OF), Rotation: Bills, Kuroda, Kershaw, McDonald, who knows.

[JoeyP]

92.  But how does DeWitt's offensive performance stack up against the average 2B?

I agree that it'd be great if the Dodgers could upgrade 2nd base, bc I dont see Dewitt's bat being all that impressive. But, the free agent market for 2nd basemen is dim outside of (Hudson- who isnt worth the money, & Mark Ellis - who might be but is on the wrong side of 30). I'd like to see a trade for Uggla, but I cant see the Marlins moving him. So, with limited options, I think the Dodgers might be suited to just keep Dewitt at 2nd & hope he can still work some walks and put up an OBP of .340 or so. His bat is acceptable at 2nd base rather than 3b at least.

[JoeyP]

93.  89- He's not. I dont think he'd sign Texeira either, but then again he did sign Furcal when the team had Izturis, so maybe its possible.

The market for Loney wouldnt be much, but if the team could get a 3rd base prospect that would be quite nice. 3rd base is an organizational black hole.

[DodgerBlueBruce]

94.  At least this year the off season will be shorter than last.

I am reminded of these words every year at this time.

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone."
A. Bart Giamatti

[JoeyP]

95.  Colletti is coming off the best season a Dodger team has had in TWENTY years.

This just isnt true.
The team finished 88-82 & had the highest payroll it ever has had.

[D4P]

96.  95
The people who matter won't care about the team's 84-78 (not 88-82) record. They will care that they won their first playoff series in 20 years.

[Jim Hitchcock]

97.  Note to Raffy: We all understand that picking one's nose is one of the finest cheap pleasures off mankind...

...but not on national TV!

[East Coast Dodger]

98.  92 I know DeWitt may be one of Joe's "guys" now, but why not give DeJesus a shot at making the team at second base? Much better defense, and while he provides less power he may have better on-base skills. Put Hu at short. DeWitt can be the utility infielder. Find a short-term solution at 3B, likely via trade. Save money for Manny and CC. I haven't seen McCourt's financials, but if they let Lowe, Penny and Furcal walk they have money to spend.

[scareduck]

99.  I am amazed at the number of people who keep saying that Manny will end up as a Yankee when one of the things he has consistently said is that he did not enjoy the pressure off the field in Boston. Double that in the Bronx.

[scareduck]

100.  90 - Furcal was, according to Plaschke, playing with a sore neck. Guess he shouldn't have been playing.