Farewell, Morning Briefing
October 21, 2008 | 10:21
am
Morning Briefing, the lighthearted creation of late Times staffer Harley Tinkham that has greeted readers of the paper's sports section almost my entire life, is an apparent casualty of the redesign that was unveiled today. Seems a shame, but I guess time marches on ...
As for the redesign itself - it's more nondescript than I expected, but it seems to accentuate the more minimalist Times we've had to get used to.
1. Morning Briefing, Notes on a Scorecard, Larry King's column.
Okay, so I will miss 2 out of 3.
Posted by: bhsportsguy | October 21, 2008 at 10:28 AM
2. If the writers stay the same who will care if they redesign the paper?
Posted by: ToyCannon | October 21, 2008 at 10:29 AM
3. Anyone heard what Bobby Abreu is asking for?
Posted by: ToyCannon | October 21, 2008 at 10:30 AM
4. I believe this was a printing error. The Times actually meant to get rid of the columns called "TJ Simers" and "Bill Plaschke" but cut out Morning Briefing instead. Hopefully this will be corrected in future editions. The Times regrets the error.
Posted by: underdog | October 21, 2008 at 10:31 AM
5. 1
Did you get my message?
Posted by: ToyCannon | October 21, 2008 at 10:32 AM
6. Continuing the Andruw Jones conversation, I not sure he was ever really interested in getting in shape. He claimed bad knees for his problems, but it took a heavy amount of convincing from both NedCo and Torre to force him to have surgery. And then he wouldn't let himself rehab at triple-A to get healthy. He constantly rushed himself when everyone knew he wasn't 100%. He spent another month producing little at the major league level before he 'accepted' another minor league rehab assignment. And then he got called up in Sept and still wasn't right.
Part of it is the dodgers enabling a guy who just wasn't right for some reason, but part of it is Andruw Jones just not getting it all year and thinking he can play on his limited ability this year.
Posted by: Tripon | October 21, 2008 at 10:35 AM
7. 4 When the contents stink like fish, doesn't much matter what the wrapper looks like.
Are they redesigning the web pages?
The only time I handle newsprint anymore is when my 70+ parents go on vacation and I pick up their newspaper. And they take the Daily News; can't even remember the last time I read a Times article on newsprint.
Posted by: El Lay Dave | October 21, 2008 at 10:37 AM
8. 54 - From the last thread. I really don't see Pierre's three years remaining as being an impediment to a deal. Arroyo and Jason Marquis would probably be suitable exchanges with teams that could use him. There is really no need for Pierre on the bench when we can use Repko in that spot. Getting a back of the rotation pitcher for that money is better than a 4th OFer.
Posted by: OhioBlues12 | October 21, 2008 at 10:38 AM
9. 6
He constantly rushed himself when everyone knew he wasn't 100%
I'll give Andruw a pass for July when Pierre was on the DL. The club had a legitimate shortage of OF at the time and Andruw's return was a calculated risk.
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 10:39 AM
10. Re: Castillo at 2b. I would much rather have Hu or Dejesus there instead of Castillo. Pierre for some sort of serviceable pitcher would be nice.
Posted by: Kevin Lewis | October 21, 2008 at 10:41 AM
11. 6 9
Fox Sports has a blurb up.
"Report: Andruw Jones to ask Dodgers for trade
Andruw Jones has told friends that he plans to approach the Dodgers and ask them to trade him. After hiding their excitement, the Dodgers will then have to find a suitor and determine how much of the $22.1 million they still owe him that they'll have to eat. Jones' first choice would likely be to return home to the Braves. But even at a cost of $2 million, the Braves likely aren't going to be willing to accommodate this homecoming. While hitting .158 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 75 games this past season, Jones said he was bothered by a sore knee. Members of the Braves organization said that he was bothered by the same knee discomfort during his days in Atlanta. -- AtlantaBraves.com "
Jones shows up at Spring Training at his Blimp weight, Dodgers need to go after his contract for being unfit to play.
Posted by: PalmdaleSteve1 | October 21, 2008 at 10:43 AM
12. It appears that I am one of the 5 people under 90 years old who still has the Times delivered to my home and reads the paper just about every day
I love newspapers, love the format, love the smell, love how you can carry them from the couch...to the breakfast table...to the can..to the backyard and pass it along when you are done. I love that when I wake up and walk outside something physical that I am looking forward to has been delivered for me.
I love everything about them except for the diminishing quality and losing things like the Morning Briefing
Posted by: Hollywood Joe | October 21, 2008 at 10:45 AM
13. Jones is an honorary member of the Knights Who Say Knee. At this point, I'd happily trade him for a shrubbery (to accent the bullpen plant life).
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 10:48 AM
14. Jones shows up at Spring Training at his Blimp weight, Dodgers need to go after his contract for being unfit to play.
I dont think MLB contracts have those sorts of clauses.
Also, he may just be done as an effective player, weight loss or not. He's been terrible for 2 years in a row. He's old in playing years (and in real years could be older than he lists, who knows).
I thought Eric Davis/Darryl Strawberry would be the worst high dollar free agent/trade OF busts in Dodger history.
Druw/Pierre are worse.
Posted by: JoeyP | October 21, 2008 at 10:48 AM
15. 1 - you don't like "Text Messages from Press Row?" Not Malamud, but Crowe offers some tasty tidbits.
I don't miss Morning Briefing too much (I know, it's only been a day), it lost it's former charm.
Posted by: SG6 | October 21, 2008 at 10:48 AM
16. 8 I think you may be undervaluing pitchers like Arroyo and Marquis. Starting pitchers that can throw 180 or more innings at anything approaching league average ERAs are getting 4/40 type contracts on the open market, e.g., Carlos Silva, Kyle Lohse. Considering his home park bandbox, Arroyo has significant value and Marquis is a bargain at 3/21.
I think Repko is an AAAA OF at this point, not a 4th OF - next year is his age 28 season. I leave it as an exercise to the reader to determine what Pierre is at this point.
Posted by: El Lay Dave | October 21, 2008 at 10:49 AM
17. 12
I usually read online, but I was solicited recently and now have the Times delivered Thursday through Sunday for a mere 75¢ per week. I do like on the weekends sitting on the couch or at the table having the paper spread out in front of me to read.
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 10:50 AM
18. 11 Jones shows up at Spring Training at his Blimp weight, Dodgers need to go after his contract for being unfit to play.
If Jones does show up overweight, it puts both Jones and the Dodgers in a serious bind. It keeps Jones in L.A., because he will be untradeable. It keeps him on the bench, because he will be unplayable. And it keeps him on the Dodgers, because if they were to go after him for being unfit to play, I think a whole lot of free agents would, going forward, avoid dealing with the Dodgers. ("Hey, I'm not going to park my free agent with your team on a four-year deal -- if something happens to him in year two, are you going to decide that you don't have to pay him?")
Posted by: Humma Kavula | October 21, 2008 at 10:50 AM
19. 13 Hah hah. They demand a sacrifice!
Saw this on MLBTR:
MLB.com's Chris Haft heard the Twins covet Matt Cain and would be willing to trade Delmon Young for him. Haft does not believe the Giants would make the one-for-one swap.
(Oh, please, please, do it Giants, do it!)
Posted by: underdog | October 21, 2008 at 10:51 AM
20. Realistically, who would bite on Jones without LA eating all of his salary?
Posted by: Ken Noe | October 21, 2008 at 10:51 AM
21. 14
At this point, 7 years removed from 9/11, and with heightened security in place for years, can't we assume someone like Andruw -- traveling in and out of the county during the offseason every year -- has the proper documentation and is really his actual age?
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 10:52 AM
22. covet ... Cain
Insert Biblical joke here.
Posted by: Humma Kavula | October 21, 2008 at 10:52 AM
23. One thing we know for sure: Andruw Jones will get paid his exorbitant salary this year. His weight doesn't matter. His production doesn't matter. His attitude doesn't matter. His location doesn't matter.
Posted by: D4P | October 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM
24. 21
And the female Chinese Gymnastic Olympians were all 16 or older.
Posted by: D4P | October 21, 2008 at 10:54 AM
25. 21 Didn't Miguel Tejada's real age come to light just this past off-season, and only because he decided to come clean?
Posted by: El Lay Dave | October 21, 2008 at 10:54 AM
26. 21 I take it you don't fly out of Atlanta much.
Posted by: Ken Noe | October 21, 2008 at 10:54 AM
27. Plus, didn't we just find out in the past year that Miguel Tejada is a couple years older than he used to claim?
Posted by: D4P | October 21, 2008 at 10:55 AM
28. 12 - I'm with you Hollywood Joe. I love reading the paper. There are times when I don't want to stare at a monitor - mostly when I'm not at work.
Posted by: SG6 | October 21, 2008 at 10:55 AM
29. 13 And he's claiming his career downturn is just a flesh wound.
Posted by: El Lay Dave | October 21, 2008 at 10:56 AM
30. I love getting the paper, but I eventually canceled it because of just the amount of paper it took, especially on Sundays. With a newborn, I just don't find the time to take my time through the paper throughout the day.
Posted by: Kevin Lewis | October 21, 2008 at 11:00 AM
31. 19
I think it would be hilarious if Cain goes somewhere else -- like Minnesota -- and pitches the same but ends up with like a 19-4 record, just the complete other end of the luck spectrum.
There have been 53 pitchers with 350 IP and a 100 ERA+ from 2007-2008. Only 7 have a losing record, and only one is more than 4 games under:
Gil Meche: 23-24, 121 ERA+
Matt Cain: 15-30, 118 ERA+
John Danks: 18-22, 110 ERA+
Aaron Harang: 22-23, 109 ERA+
Doug Davis: 19-20, 108 ERA+
Wandy Rodriguez: 18-20, 105 ERA+
Bronson Arroyo: 24-26, 102 ERA+
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/7yBm
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 11:03 AM
32. 31
That was minimum 300 IP.
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 11:05 AM
33. It is a little inconvenient to make a conscious effort to pick up a free newspaper for my camping trips, to aid in starting the fire.
I am old enough to remember my family taking both the morning Times and the afternoon Herald-Examiner, so I do have some fond memories of reading newspapers, but as 30 points out, times seems to permit no longer.
Posted by: El Lay Dave | October 21, 2008 at 11:05 AM
34. The LA Times was part of my life from 1970 until the Depo wars caused me to cancel. The internet has completely replaced it and I don't think I miss it. Sorry Marty.
Posted by: ToyCannon | October 21, 2008 at 11:06 AM
35. Tony Jackson is on today's BP Radio podcast.
Posted by: bhsportsguy | October 21, 2008 at 11:08 AM
36. I miss the physical paper, but just not enough to order it again and to read it on a daily basis. I always pick one up if I am in a waiting room or restaurant where it is lying around.
Posted by: Kevin Lewis | October 21, 2008 at 11:12 AM
37. Sports page was barely 6 pages, even with the David Price article. Truly disappointing. When I called to cancel my subscription last month, they cut my bill in half to stay. $22.00 every 8 weeks still seems worth it, at least a little.
Posted by: delias man | October 21, 2008 at 11:15 AM
38. Olney in chat today was mentioning that the Dodgers will throw out feelers on Martin, with the Red Sox interested for sure.
Posted by: oshea2002 | October 21, 2008 at 11:26 AM
39. Immediate reaction to the Times' changes:
1) I definitely like the uniform typefaces. Surrendering to the mid-90's Wired typographic schizophrenia was a bad idea.
2) I guess I didn't notice the "Morning Briefing". Everybody's cutting back on print space; for those upthread who think the Times is thin, the Register is a pamphlet in comparison, as is the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
Posted by: scareduck | October 21, 2008 at 11:28 AM
40. If the Giants would be interested in trading Matt Cain for Matt Kemp I would be listening very hard.
Posted by: ToyCannon | October 21, 2008 at 11:28 AM
41. I normally agree that if the GM gets the blame for poor transactions he should get the praise for good ones. However, I feel that Frank had more to do with initiating the Manny trade than Ned. I do not think that Ned at that point in the season had the authority to initiate a Manny trade. Getting Manny and Blake for no money and a couple minor league scrubs (just kidding!) was a great deal in Frank & Ned's way of looking at things.
Ned may have worked out the details, but Frank initiated the trade process. I think he had visions of Manny, Lowe, Nomar and Varitek playing together again, but for the LAD. Not going to hapen.
Posted by: MJW101 | October 21, 2008 at 11:36 AM
42. 38
Martin and Kershaw for Paul Byrd, Dave Ross, Coco Crisp, and Alex Cora.
Boom! We get a starting pitcher, catcher, centerfielder, and shortstop.
Ned's work here is done.
Posted by: D4P | October 21, 2008 at 11:37 AM
43. 42 - I was thinking Ned would let Raffy walk, then go Lugo and Ross for Martin. Then move Ross to 3rd, and sign Varitek.
Posted by: oshea2002 | October 21, 2008 at 11:38 AM
44. So the Dodgers are worried about Martin's "makeup" and then want to trade him to Boston? Perhaps then the Dodgers can replace Martin with the catcher who is so great that he can go 0 for 2000 and still help the team.
Buck Martinez will be very happy.
Posted by: Bob Timmermann | October 21, 2008 at 11:40 AM
45. 38 Are any of these Martin rumors going to address that we have absolutely no way to replace him?
Posted by: regfairfield | October 21, 2008 at 11:41 AM
46. 35 Just listened to Tony Jackson's interview. An interesting tidbit - he doesn't think we have interest in CC Sabathia. Too costly, it seems.
I'm not happy about that.
Posted by: silverwidow | October 21, 2008 at 11:41 AM
47. The Dodgers weren't worried about Manny's makeup.
Posted by: D4P | October 21, 2008 at 11:42 AM
48. 45 Well there's Carlos... oh wait, nevermind. Sob.
Posted by: fanerman | October 21, 2008 at 11:42 AM
49. 45 - I highly doubt it. I'd listen to offers for anyone though. Ask for Lester, Buckholz, and Ellsbury, what's the worst they could say?
Posted by: oshea2002 | October 21, 2008 at 11:42 AM
50. 45
That requires too much work.
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 11:42 AM
51. 16 - There is no doubt that pitchers of that caliber have value, but most of us continue to undervalue Pierre. To think that he has no value on the trade market is folly in my opinion. Pierre doesn't have value to us because we have better options but what of those teams that don't have better options?
3 - I wouldn't mind taking a look at Abreu if Manny goes elsewhere. He still has some pop and good OBP.
Posted by: OhioBlues12 | October 21, 2008 at 11:44 AM
52. does Jones realize how bad you have to suck to get BOOED in this town!?!?!?
I'm sorry Jon but I had to let that out...
Posted by: Bluebleeder87 | October 21, 2008 at 11:46 AM
53. It's a shame that Briefing and bits like it (old enough to remember Ostler's Bottom 10?) are sacrificed because Zell and his ilk buy into leveraged purchases. Sadly the economic meltdown has the same root causes. Spending money you can't afford on something you gamble will appreciate in value to pay for its purchase. The Times was a great paper that held its own in the pantheon of international newspapers. When the Left Coast was panned as nuts and wacko, the Times was there as a symbol of how the Southland was a world player that the East Coast had to look at or up to.
The Internet is OK for catching up on the news, or, especially when you no longer live in an area,a great way to stay connected. That said, the flow of leafing through pages cannot be replicated in 2 dimensions. Curling up with a loved one on the couch with a laptop just isn't the same.
Progress isn't always so.....
Posted by: bagg4 | October 21, 2008 at 11:47 AM
54. 52
Kobe Bryant has been booed in L.A. so I'm not sure if quality of play has a lot to do with it.
At least Andruw Jones hasn't had the temerity yet to do something horrible like Shawn Green and agree to be traded in order to improve the team! That horrible, horrible, horrible man!
Posted by: Bob Timmermann | October 21, 2008 at 11:53 AM
55. 38
Nothing wrong with throwing out feelers, you never know who will overpay.
They may not be interested in trading Martin because of makeup as much as the idea he was uninterested in signing a contract and they don't want to go to arbitration year after year and have battles throughout his Dodger career.
Boston certainly has players I'd trade Martin for:
Pedroia, Youkilis, Lester
but with our luck we'd end up with Lowell and Lugo and sign Varitek as a FA.
Posted by: ToyCannon | October 21, 2008 at 11:54 AM
56. 54
I always assumed it had to do with giving out poisoned batting gloves after hitting a HR (think final moment of 24 season 2).
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 11:55 AM
57. The USA Today killed the newspaper as we know it.
Posted by: kinbote | October 21, 2008 at 11:58 AM
58. 54 Kobe Bryant was booed for about 20 seconds and by the end of game had people yelling "MVP, MVP!"
Posted by: bhsportsguy | October 21, 2008 at 11:58 AM
59. MEMORANDUM
TO: Ned Colletti
FROM: Ken Noe
RE: Russell Martin
You could get away with moving Martin, and even with Varitek as a stop-gap, if you had Carlos Santana in the wings. Remember him?
Posted by: Ken Noe | October 21, 2008 at 11:59 AM
60. I love how there is nothing in any LA papers about the Dodgers shopping Martin and yet all it takes is Buster Olney to mention in a chat and everyone believes that the Dodgers want to move Martin.
How many times must it be repeated, if there is anything that can be said about the Ned Colletti led front office, they rarely if ever, send out feelers via the media.
Posted by: bhsportsguy | October 21, 2008 at 12:01 PM
61. Is there really anything to these Martin rumors, or is it just air-filling blather from East Coast reporters who have no actual connection to the Dodgers? Color me skeptical. But if there is anything to it, can we start an email campaign now to flood their office with pleasantly worded threats?
Posted by: underdog | October 21, 2008 at 12:01 PM
62. Or, what BH said.
Posted by: underdog | October 21, 2008 at 12:02 PM
63. Before today I had no idea there was an actual Celebrity Boxing Federation. I mean, we've all seen the occasional celebrity boxing match (Horshack getting pounded by Screech, for instance), but who knew there existed a governing body?
Apparently, Jose Canseco will fight Danny Bonaduce in January. It's like Christmas getting extended a whole month! :)
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 12:02 PM
64. 59 You must add Dejon Watson, Logan White and Kim Ng to that memo too since they are among the Dodger front office who probably advised Ned that losing Santana was worth making that trade.
Posted by: bhsportsguy | October 21, 2008 at 12:03 PM
65. 46 Various reports have already come out stating that the Yankees will offer CC something like 30% - 40% higher than the next bidder. I doubt that puts the Dodgers in the running, unless CC decides being in the National League and on the West Coast mean that much to him.
Posted by: bferb | October 21, 2008 at 12:04 PM
66. I'm 32 years old, which hardly makes me a fossil, and I grew up reading the LA Times. I subscribed all through college and for years afterwards, even well after I started getting my breaking news from cable and the internet. I love newspapers and think they are civic institutions. Their news gathering capabilities and ability to place current news in its appropriate context are irreplaceable.
What is happening to the LA Times is breaking my heart. Otis Chandler would puke if he were alive today. Every time I come back to Los Angeles, the paper seems to be thinner and less substantive than the last time I saw it. I really wonder what it's going to look like in a few years.
Posted by: Disabled List | October 21, 2008 at 12:05 PM
67. I wouldn't do Martin for Lowrie, Lowell, and Kottaras but that's probably the type of package we'd get in return.
Posted by: regfairfield | October 21, 2008 at 12:05 PM
68. 63 Amazing! Isn't Bonaduce some type of martial arts master?
Posted by: bferb | October 21, 2008 at 12:06 PM
69. The Yankees killed baseball as we know it.
Posted by: kinbote | October 21, 2008 at 12:06 PM
70. 65 That puts everyone out of the running mathematically.
Posted by: regfairfield | October 21, 2008 at 12:07 PM
71. Lets trade Martin for Lowrie, Pedroia, and Lester.
In other words, this never happens. This sounds like other execs coveting Martin and trying to drive down the price.
Posted by: Tripon | October 21, 2008 at 12:07 PM
72. 12 (newspaper delivery) Me too.
Posted by: berkowit28 | October 21, 2008 at 12:08 PM
73. Martin's not going anywhere barring a blockbuster haul, not without Santana anyway (my earlier point).
Posted by: Ken Noe | October 21, 2008 at 12:12 PM
74. 67
I think a Martin for Youkilis trade is the kind of deal that would be made and would fill the hole at third base we have had since Beltre left.
But as it has been said, THERE IS NO ONE TO REPLACE MARTIN...ANYWHERE. This is one of the worst shortages of catching talent the league has seen in quite some time. We would be creating a huge hole to fill a smaller one.
Now I'm grumpy.
Posted by: CajunDodger | October 21, 2008 at 12:12 PM
75. Here's one way I can see Martin going.
Dodgers trade Martin to Red Sox for a combination of Lester/Pedroia/Youk.
Dodgers then trade for Mike Napoli for Hu.
Everyone wins! Well, until Napoli breaks down.
Posted by: Tripon | October 21, 2008 at 12:13 PM
76. 74 Youkalis is in the same boat as Martin is. They both want to sweat out arbitration every year.
Posted by: Tripon | October 21, 2008 at 12:14 PM
77. Dustin Pedroia is about to win the AL MVP award. The chances of the Red Sox trading him for Russell Martin are about the same as the Red Sox trading him for Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones.
Posted by: Disabled List | October 21, 2008 at 12:18 PM
78. I would have to think, Pedroia, Youk, and Lester are untouchable. Lowrie, Bucholz, would be interesting pieces to recieve but I just can't see any Boston/LA trade happening.
Posted by: cargill06 | October 21, 2008 at 12:20 PM
79. I was on ESPN.com, and stumbled across this ESPN Magazine piece on Eck & Gibson reliving the HR:
http://tinyurl.com/3roeb6
...and I came across this pretty funny Rickey Henderson story (not as good as probably 10 others) from Eck as well:
http://tinyurl.com/5quxzu
Posted by: Eric Stephen | October 21, 2008 at 12:22 PM
80. If Martin goes to the Sox I would expect one of Schmidt and Andruw to accompany him with Cotteras, Lowell, and Buchholz/Masterson, etc coming back
Posted by: Brian Y | October 21, 2008 at 12:22 PM
81. Calm down, everybody. Martin isn't getting traded, least of all for Julio Lugo, who -- I needn't remind you -- Colletti has already acquired, had a sour experience with, and let go (via free agency).
Posted by: Humma Kavula | October 21, 2008 at 12:22 PM
82. 34 Well, I know where I won't get my electric bike :-)
Posted by: Marty | October 21, 2008 at 12:23 PM
83. 51 - I don't think Pierre is undervalued anywhere.
He may have had value as a "defensive" CFer with speed and batting average, until his arm was really exposed.
As a speedy, no-arm, no-power LFer, who no longer hits for average, nor gets on base, there just isn't demand outside of a 4th outfielder at best.
Posted by: SG6 | October 21, 2008 at 12:26 PM
84. The showdown no one on DT wants to see....
Flanders vs. Theo.
Posted by: cargill06 | October 21, 2008 at 12:28 PM
85. Jones got booed loudly and consistently, but when the Dodgers were winning in the second half, I remember him coming up to bat in an important situation as a pinch hitter, and the crowd rallying and cheering like mad for him. Sure it may have been partially sarcastic or tongue-in-cheek but I know almost every Dodgers fan wanted him to finally do_something_. He struck out. And was booed mercilessly.
Posted by: Harold M Johnson | October 21, 2008 at 12:34 PM
86. 84 Seriously. The Red Sox ought to be the last team the Dodgers should be trading with. Colletti would be very proud of himself for acquiring Lowell and Varitek, while Theo would end up with Kershaw, Martin, Kemp, Ned Colletti's kids, and Jamie McCourt.
Posted by: Disabled List | October 21, 2008 at 12:39 PM
87. Steve (LA): Would you trade Kershaw, Kemp, and McDonald for Peavy? That seems to be the names being thrown around...seems like a lot especially after seeing McDonald in the playoffs.
SportsNation Rob Neyer: No, I would not. Kershaw and McDonald, maybe, based on the old bird-in-the-hand theory. But Kemp's going to be an outstanding major league hitter for many years. If the Dodgers don't re-sign Manny, they're going to need Kemp.
Jerry (Seattle): Any insight on the Mariners GM situation?
SportsNation Rob Neyer: Nope. I just hope Kim Ng gets the job, because it would be a great story.
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=23136
Posted by: Tripon | October 21, 2008 at 12:40 PM
88. Josh (NY): Cano and Kennedy for Matt Kemp? Yankees need a center fielder and reports say the Dodgers love Cano.
SportsNation Rob Neyer: One sticking point: I'm not sure Kemp is a center fielder for much longer. I think he's about to grow out of the position (if he hasn't already). Also, do the Dodgers need another young starter? Can't Jamie McDonald be that guy if they want one?
Posted by: Tripon | October 21, 2008 at 12:43 PM
89. 86 Ned: I really pulled one over on you getting Manny for free, didn't I, Theo? Heh heh.
Theo: You bet Ned. Now let's talk about a deal for your current roster....
Posted by: Ken Noe | October 21, 2008 at 12:44 PM
90. 83 - I don't think anyone is undervaluing Pierre as a player, but as a trade chip he is undervalued constantly. I see comments all the time about how we could only get a AAAA player for him while playing all of his salary. I just don't think that is true. There are certainly other players with bad contracts that other GMs would like to move that may be able to address one of our needs while Pierre addresses one of theirs. I just think it is better to swap those players than have Pierre sulking on the bench.
Posted by: OhioBlues12 | October 21, 2008 at 12:45 PM
91. 88 Interesting.
If Kemp can no longer play CF, how does that figure into the possible plan to sign Manny?
What does "grow out of the position" mean? How bad would Kemp be? How much would he cost the team on defense? How much of Kemp's value is tied into the fact that he can play a reasonable center field? If he can no longer play CF, how much does he need to improve to retain his value?
Matt Kemp is my favorite player on the Dodgers, but there are a lot of questions that he can answer by taking a big step forward next year.
Posted by: Humma Kavula | October 21, 2008 at 12:50 PM
92. 91 If Kemp had to switch out from CF to RF, I would think the casualty would be Ethier if LF was taken by Manny.
Who knows, maybe Lambo can learn how to play CF. ...Probably not. Strange-Gordon might be switching a position if Furcal is retained and DeJesus takes 2nd.
Posted by: Tripon | October 21, 2008 at 12:57 PM
93. Cool. I enjoyed those two or so weeks we had free from Yankees-fans-asking-about-Kemp-for-Cano. That was a nice respite.
Posted by: underdog | October 21, 2008 at 12:57 PM
94. 91 If he doesn't make the leap, most of Kemp's value is that he can have an .800 OPS while playing average defense in center. There aren't all that many players that can do that. If it turns into average defense in a corner, he's in trouble.
Posted by: regfairfield | October 21, 2008 at 12:57 PM
95. 91 I assume Neyer just sees Bison as a corner outfielder with power and a big arm. Whereas I see him flanked one day by Ethier and Lambo.
Posted by: Ken Noe | October 21, 2008 at 12:59 PM
96. 87
Funny. I'd be much more willing to trade Kemp than Kershaw.
Posted by: D4P | October 21, 2008 at 01:01 PM
97. Maybe they're expecting Kemp to get even bigger this off-season? I wouldnt be against it if he keeps above average speed and gains even more power.
Posted by: still bevens | October 21, 2008 at 01:09 PM
98. it's funny a lot of people thought the internet would kill books but newspapers (and to a certain extent magazines) were the real casualties. I do still miss newspapers and will pick one up every once in a while, but it feels like yesterdays news. Still, the feel, smell, and all the other stuff everyone mentioned is why I still love books - much more organic.
Also, first comment from the iPhone
Posted by: KG16 | October 21, 2008 at 01:13 PM
99. 98 The iPhone killed newspapers
Posted by: Tripon | October 21, 2008 at 01:14 PM
100. The Commodore 64 killed the Apple II.
Posted by: D4P | October 21, 2008 at 01:19 PM