Johnson to Los Angeles: Will It Finally Happen?

Some rose as he walked off the mound, while others waited until he approached the top step of the dugout at Dodger Stadium.

But by the time Ismael Valdes reached his destination, they had come together to thank him.

After all, it may have been the fans' final opportunity.

The pitcher received a standing ovation Sunday afternoon from a crowd of 41,306 when he was removed in the eighth inning of a 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Now, the clock starts for Valdes.

He is among the players the Dodgers are attempting to trade for Seattle Mariner pitcher Randy Johnson, and Valdes' career in Los Angeles may have ended because of his strong effort against the Reds. ...

- Ross Newhan in the Times, June 1, 1998

* * *

Yep, Randy Johnson-to-the-Dodgers talk is more than 10 years old now. Pre-Y2K, pre-RJ4K (in Ks). But not since that time has the talk had more weight than it does now, with Johnson having parted ways with Arizona and become a free agent.

Johnson offered to take a 50-percent paycut in order to stay with the team that he has spent eight of his 21 seasons with, but not even that was enough to persuade the Diamondbacks. While this might send up Jason Schmidt-like warning signals (if Arizona doesn't want him, maybe there's something wrong with him), a Los Angeles homecoming for the USC graduate still seems sensible enough.

Though his career seemed all but over - if not in 2007, when he made only 10 starts, then midway through 2008, when his ERA was 5.23 - he recovered to end 2008 with 184 innings, a 117 ERA+ and 173 strikeouts. His ERA in the second half of the season was 2.41. A short-term deal for Johnson could be just right for the Dodgers. Even if he doesn't pitch a full season, he would allow someone like Eric Stults to be a spot starter instead of a full-fledged member of the rotation.

What would it take to sign Johnson? According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, Johnson earned $10 million in base salary in 2008, though Arizona owes him $8.5 million in bonus payments. Johnson won't offer the Dodgers the same discount that he offered Arizona, but he could slot in probably for no more than the $9 million Brad Penny would have earned had he stayed in town, and perhaps a good deal less.

Johnson's days of exceptional pitching are over - he's no substitute for CC Sabathia - but it seems reasonable that he could replace the retired Greg Maddux. Of course, Johnson still is just one option.

Meanwhile, Dave Cameron looks at Sabathia's value at Fangraphs. (Link via Baseball Musings.)

* * *

Josh Wilker has a great piece on ex-Dodger Billy North at Cardboard Gods. Here's the opening:

It must have seemed like it was going to be a blooping basehit, beyond the reach of infielder and outfielder alike. Dick Allen, in the midst of the last of his many MVP-caliber seasons, had been running from second base on the play, and from what I've read Dick Allen was not just a one-dimensional mangler of pitches but an intelligent player who knew the whole game well. He must have sized up the fluttering wounded quail off the bat of White Sox teammate Brian Downing and been convinced that it would touch down safely in the outfield grass. He must have set his mind on roaring across home plate with the tying run.

Is there anything more exciting than speed? As the ball arced down toward the outfield grass, Oakland A's centerfielder Billy North suddenly appeared like a flash of heat lightning. This is how I imagine it happened. One moment no one is there and an eyeblink later Billy North is a green and yellow bolt catching the ball off his white shoetops. His momentum carries him forward, toward the second base bag, and I imagine that he thought about making the throw to the infielder waiting there to double off Dick Allen. Maybe North even cocked his arm to throw. But then North must have seen that Dick Allen had no chance to beat the centerfielder to the bag. (A sign of Allen's lack of fleetness came later in the game, when he was pinch run for by Tony Muser, who stole all of 14 bases in his nine-year career.) Billy North hung onto the ball and kept running. With speed like that, speed so transcendent it must have felt exactly like joy, why stop? The outfielder transformed himself into an infielder and stomped on the bag, ending the inning and preserving the lead with what has to be one of the more unusual unassisted double plays ever recorded.

Must have felt pretty good to be Billy North that day. ...

* * *

"Dodgers" and "monorail" in the same sentence? Tell me more ....

Comments

[Eric Stephen]

1.  From cargill in the last thread:
Wow, why would Arizona not bring back Johnson for $5-7?

There are various reports that the D-Backs have some real credit/money issues, and are really up against their budget. They basically have $10m to spend on free agents, and they still need to find a starting 2B plus some various bench/bullpen guys.

Their rotation will still be good with Webb, Haren, Scherzer, Davis, and Petit.

[cargill06]

2.  Petit in the D'Backs rotation for a full season?? :-) :-)

[Harold M Johnson]

3.  Great post about Dodger stadium. O'Malley wanted to keep it "pure" (no ads on the outfield walls, no football combo stadium) and that purity is what has made Dodger Stadium such an amazing place to watch baseball.

[Daniel Zappala]

4.  There is nothing flatter than a joke followed by a NPUT.

[cargill06]

5.  JJ, Liberty Twp OH: Predict the contract Manny Ramirez actually signs this winter, please.

Keith Law: (2:01 PM ET ) 4/$80, Dodgers.

[Jon Weisman]

6.  4 - All comments preceding an NPUT are regaled equally.

[Eric Stephen]

7.  Oh man, does this mean the Dodgers will finally acquire 39-year old Vlad in 2015?

[blue22]

8.  5 - I'll take that. With the preferred Sabathia increasingly looking like he'll be a Yankee, Manny would be a nice consolation prize at that price.

[Gold Star for Robot Boy]

9.  That season when the Dodger Stadium crowd thanked Valdez/Valdes? He was 11-10 with an ERA+ of 101.

[Eric Stephen]

10.  That Colon trade sure worked out for the Indians, didn't it?

For Colon and The Eldest Drew, Montreal GM Omar Minaya sent the following to Cleveland:

Cliff Lee: 2008 AL Cy Young winner & All-Star
Grady Sizemore: 3-time All-Star & 2008 Silver Slugger & Gold Glove winner
Brandon Phillips: 2008 Gold Glove winner (with Cincinnati)
Lee Stevens' corpse

[old dodger fan]

11.  With the Schmidt/Jones/Pierre trilogy costing about $40 million and $30 million of that disapearing after the '09 season it seems like a smart business move to give the high priced FA market a breather for a year and let some younger guys take a shot at establishing themselves. Jones or Schmidt might even play well and give us a bonus.

[bigcpa]

12.  I will add that Johnson posted 11 QS in his 13 starts post AS break and completed 7+ innings 8 times. I fully endorse a 1 year deal. Just imagine those shots of Unit and Kershaw talking grips and release points in the dugout. Plus he would pay for himself with sales of mullet wigs.

[Eric Stephen]

13.  11
What if the talent available this year is far superior to the 2010 crop? There is no one as good as CC that will be available next winter.

If they want to get creative, they can backload the contract to save some money in 2009.

[ToyCannon]

14.  10
With Philips being the centerpiece of the deal as a young studly shortstop. Instead they give up on him and the Reds benefit, but that is one of the great returns in my memory.

They interrupted 30 Rock with the Santa Barbara fires which was fine with me. 30 Rock has really blown this year after ending last year on such a high note. I wonder if Tina Fey peaked with Palin and the rest of the career will just be living off the good stuff of the past.

Hope all you SB people are doing okay, the first picture I saw reminded me of the Laguna fires.

A monorail would have been so cool but I don't know how those things work out when 50,000 people leave at once instead of a few at a time all day long.

[cargill06]

15.  Just imagine those shots of Unit and Kershaw talking grips and release points in the dugout.

LOL

[Eric Stephen]

16.  14
It will be interesting to see if Texas gets a similar return from the players received in the Teixeira trade.

[Linkmeister]

17.  2 things from that stadium post:

1) infrared heating for seats? In Los Angeles, California?

2) putting seats on rollers to accommodate football? That didn't work at all for Aloha Stadium out here, and the technology tried was 20 years newer than it would have been for Dodger Stadium.

Phew. Dodged bullets.

[Gagne55]

18.  The Big Unit would be a nice addition, though I have doubts of it happening.

[Gagne55]

19.  10 The threat of contraction(of the Expos) sure benefited the Indians.

[Bob Timmermann]

20.  The meanest, hardest-hitting Stanford alum, aside from Jon, ever is going to retire simultaneously as a Buc and a Bronco.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3702821

[Jon Weisman]

21.  14 - I thought last night's was the first clunker of the season for 30 Rock, though I liked the Night Court stuff. Aniston's character just was too annoying.

I don't think Tina Fey has peaked, but perhaps for you she has. Once your fondness for a performer starts to decline, it's hard to get it back.

[old dodger fan]

22.  13 There is no pitcher even close to CC next year. I saw 3 guys on next years list but all 3 had that disappointing * that meant there is a team option.

I sure hope we sign CC and I sure hope Frank has some money left.

[Jon Weisman]

23.  20 - This retiring with a specific team thing has gotten out of hand.

When I retire, I'm going to retire as a student of Collier Street Elementary.

[LogikReader]

24.  14

Hey again everyone,

So far so good in SB. I am still pondering whether I should leave work early to check on my home. I haven't received any updates to the evacuation area. What that means is, no additional homes have received evacuation warnings as far as I know. Seems like good news to me.

The air around UCSB appears to be clearer, but I don't know what it means. I noticed we get have a little more wind at the moment.

So for now, I'm here at work. I hope conditions are still reasonable to return and get a good night's rest. Tomorrow, tonight, and Sunday I'll be spending most of my time away from the apartment.

Second note: another vegetation fire broke out in San Luis Obispo about 11:30 am today. I just knew one fire statewide was too good to be true.

[Harold M Johnson]

25.  21 agreed, the first two episodes were good, last night's was flat. although as usual the best lines were the throwaway ones that you sometimes need to rewind to hear.

[Gagne55]

26.  And bringing this back to the Big Unit, how about Seattle's haul for Johnson? 2 time all-star Freddy Garcia, 3 time all-star (after the Mariners traded him to Detroit) Carlos Guillen, and all-star and three time gold glove Mike Cameron. Then again, Unit went on the have a historically great five year stretch after that.

[Eric Stephen]

27.  22
Lackey will probably be the best free agent pitcher next offseason. He's closer that we may think to the CC-level, but he's not quite CC.

[cargill06]

28.  27 I'd rather have a healthy Burnett than a healthy Lackey, plus Lackey's velo has dropped to the high 80's range last year.

[trainwreck]

29.  I will never forget waking up one morning in SB, going outside and everything was covered in ash and the air just stunk with smoke.

Never had seen that before.

[cargill06]

30.  I just wondered to myslef, do I have a man crush of AJ Burnett?

[trainwreck]

31.  Also had flooding that same year. It was like were being hit with plagues.

[trainwreck]

32.  *we were being hit with plagues.

[Eric Stephen]

33.  26
That was a great haul. I specifically remember Jim Rome making fun of the Seattle GM at the time for the "pathetic" return, even going so far as to re-enact a mock phone call between him and Astros' owner Drayton McClane, in which he kept frantically calling him "Dayton" (because he was so stupid).

[old dodger fan]

34.  27 I don't live in LA but I thought he was a big fan favorite. I would expect the Angels to make him a priority.

[Kevin Lewis]

35.  24

My fear was confirmed that a close friend lost his home last night. Also, it looks like 14 faculty homes were destroyed on the Westmont campus, along with 4 sectional dorms.

[bhsportsguy]

36.  31 How did the game look on TV, at Pauley it looked rather ragged plus the kids played liked kids.

[Eric Stephen]

37.  28
I'd rather have an injured Lackey than a healthy Burnett*. :)

*Only slightly exaggerated.

[trainwreck]

38.  36
Offense looked ridiculously stagnant. Too much of players just letting Collison and Shipp try to do stuff on their own.

Also extremely sloppy with the double teams.

And Collison's lack of court vision really hurts. Hopefully Jrue starts to control the point more.

[cargill06]

39.  I'm predicting AJ in a Dodger uniform gives us a 3.06 ERA in '09

[trainwreck]

40.  I still have not heard back from my friends/ex-roommates, but they live in Goleta so they should be fine.

[Eric Stephen]

41.  39
After my initial comment yesterday, I have decided I can talk myself into liking an AJB signing.

[Kevin Lewis]

42.  40

Yea, Goleta should be fine unless we get some copycats (not saying this one was on purpose, but the ones that follow...)

[LogikReader]

43.  Anybody here who has XM Radio?

XM used to have very hip, cool, and creative niche music channels. I loved it. We had lots of eclectic channels with enthusiastic on air talent. For the first time ever, I heard a concrete Punk Rock Channel (Fungus on 53). Even seemingly basic channels like the 80s and 50s channels played a few songs that I literally said "I haven't heard this in years!"

XM and Sirius merged in earnest a few months ago, with Sirius handling operations. When the merger took place, I feared XM radio would turn into Sirius: overplayed songs I already hear on FM, plus big name DJ retreads (apologies to Stern and Cousin Brucie fans).

Two days ago, Sirius/XM merged most of their music channels, canning all the niche formats and narrowing the playlists to "compilation albums" at best (Fungus turned into an all AC/DC channel... lovely). I do not like this homogenization of my satellite radio. It's not the same!

---

I usually don't read Simmons, but this was the quote of the day:

Q: Watching the end of the Jets-Chiefs game, you know what I hate most about the obligatory "number of game-winning drives in Favre's career" graphic? The fact that if he didn't suck so much for the first 50 minutes of the game he wouldn't need those game-winning drives. Really? You're putting a last-minute game-winning drive against Kansas City on your résumé? Does that negate the three INTs you already threw?
-- Aaron, Montpelier, Vt.

This was written before last night's game.

[Jason in Canada]

44.  26 Not to be a stickler, but Cameron came in the Griffey trade, John Halama was the other part of the deal for Johnson.

[cargill06]

45.  41 Sorry for beating a dead horse, I just don't understand the logic of endorsing Sheets but not endorsing Burnett. The injury past with Burnett is a legitamite concern, but to a greater extent for Sheets. Burnett actually went through 2008 pretty clean, whereas Sheets missed a bunch of starts at the end of the year and was unable to pitch in the playoffs with "arm soreness". This has to be a big concern, what if it's more than just "arm soreness"?

[bhsportsguy]

46.  38 Its going to be Collison and Shipp's team, they have been in the program for 4 and 5 years and Howland trusts them to run the show.

Let's face it, running multiple offensive sets is not Howland's style, it has always been one player dominating the ball for long stretches of the clock.

It will help if Jrue can play good defense, that will keep him on the floor but I think he can't just float on the perimeter and shoot threes.

[KG16]

47.  oh c'mon, I can't be the only one whose first thought upon seeing "'Dodgers' and 'monorail' in the same sentence?" to think that was more a North Haverbrook idea. Either that, or everyone else is much more disciplined than I am.

[cargill06]

48.  After my initial comment yesterday, I have decided I can talk myself into liking an AJB signing.

Sorry for 45 , I read that comment completely wrong, I imagined a word that wasn't really there.

[Eric Stephen]

49.  45
Certainly both have injury concerns, but when healthy Sheets has been the far superior pitcher. That's what I'm clinging to. Plus, Sheets is younger.

[Eric Stephen]

50.  47
You have no idea how many times I've resisted typing "Mannyrail" in the past few weeks. :)

[KG16]

51.  50 - in a lot of ways, it's sad that I have so many automatic responds that involve either Southpark or the Simpsons

[LoneStar7]

52.  that little article about dodger stadium was great..I really hope these plans for 2012 don't take away the purity and simplicity that is Dodger Stadium.

I'm at school in Dallas and when I went to Arlington I was so overwhelmed by the massive advertising and gimmicky stuff going on inside the park. I hope to never see any that in Dodger Stadium

[Tripon]

53.  I wouldn't mind if they turned the area around Dodgers stadium into rows of massive apartment areas. I always thought it was a wasted opportunity that Elysian Park wasn't developed.

[LoneStar7]

54.  53 yea that would be cool, I feel there is a young group moving in and around as well...a friend of mine lives there with her boyfriend and they love it.

[LoneStar7]

55.  oh and by the way, I went to kings stars game last night and finally saw drew doughty in person. He is so gifted and incredibly smart with the puck for an 18 year old

this young kings team has been exciting to watch since Ersberg has been in goal.

[ToyCannon]

56.  Yeah, let's remove Griffith Park while we are it. Who needs parks anyway, especially ones that are filled every weekend with families enjoying the time outside.

[Bob Timmermann]

57.  You know what I think would be really cool for the Dodger Stadium area?

A big public housing project. We could have someone who was a student of Richard Neutra design it.

[Tripon]

58.  56 I lived in the small neighborhood of Salano right next to the stadium, on Amador Street for five years. Elysian Park is hard to get into, is massive, and is situated in an area that is surrounded by poor neighborhoods that is heavily impacted by working class people.

You can still have the picnics areas for the families on the weekends, but lets also build some affordable housing for people who actually need it.

[Eric Stephen]

59.  I knew the Padres filed a grievance against Khalil Greene trying to recoup some of his salary after he broke his hand punching a cooler, but what I didn't know is that they first tried simply to not pay him:

the Padres stopped paying Greene's $4.5 million salary, a response to the shortstop fracturing his left hand by slamming a storage chest. The players' union intervened, and the Padres paid Greene's salary, but the club since has filed a grievance in attempt to regain up to $1.47 million from Greene

http://tinyurl.com/5pns6s

[jdbeauchamp]

60.  Just read the Dodgers are more likely to sign Orlando Cabrera than Furcal (per Shaikin).

Is this a length-of-contract issue? I think I like Hu better than this option.

Maybe I'm underrating Cabrera?

Maybe this has already been vetted?

[Eric Stephen]

61.  57
I was in Palm Springs last weekend for a wedding about a block from the Neutra-designed Kaufman House.

[Tripon]

62.  60 I think its just Shakin not realizing that Hu exists.

Although it seems he likes DeJesus enough to mention him at the end of the article.

[cargill06]

63.  60 Orlando Caberera?? Yuck.

[Eric Stephen]

64.  61
Shameful that I left off the 2nd n in Kaufmann, especially in a response to Mr. Timmermann.

[cargill06]

65.  Orlando Cabrera is basically Furcal/Berroa/Hu/Maza all rolled into 1. Thos guys gave the Dodgers a 85 OPS+ last year with average defense. Cabrera had a 84 OPS+ with average defense.

[LogikReader]

66.  60

I think the OC was brought up on DT sometime last week.

I agree, cargill, YUCK!

[ToyCannon]

67.  60
Per Keith Law:
"The success of teams with good defenses this season -- particularly Boston, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia -- helps players like Cabrera whose value is largely locked up in their gloves. Cabrera still has excellent range at shortstop, moving well in both directions and coming in on the ball, and has good hands and an above-average arm. At the plate, however, he's below-average and slipping, as he can't catch up to good fastballs and has to start his bat early, bailing out if the pitcher fakes him out with a breaking ball or changeup.

He's an average runner at best and is also showing signs of decline in his speed. He'll turn 34 in November, and he's into his decline phase, so while he'd be a significant upgrade for most teams at shortstop on defense, a long-term deal will probably take the team into his years as a backup."

[jdbeauchamp]

68.  Chad Fonville could play a little short. If only he were here...

I'm finally going to try Philipe's when I'm home this Xmas.

Worth the trip? Any order recommendations?

[CodyS]

69.  60 Let's see Hu play for a year without going blind for months at a time before counting on him for anything.

[Bob Timmermann]

70.  68
I like the lamb sandwich, but it costs more than the others. I also found that the small bowl of chili as a side is quite tasty.

Be sure to bring cash. Phillipe's doesn't take credit cards. Or debit cards.

[Eric Stephen]

71.  68
Can't go wrong with the classic beef dip, but the turkey dip is great too.

Also, don't forget to buy a jar of Philippe's mustard to take home!

[Bob Timmermann]

72.  71
A jar of that mustard should last a long time. Unless you chronic sinus congestion and want to clear yourself out. It is quite powerful

[D4P]

73.  Phillipe's doesn't take credit cards. Or debit cards

Ridiculous.

[Eric Stephen]

74.  73
Some would say quaint. :)

[cargill06]

75.  73 Neither does China Express but those are sacrifices you have to make for the best chinesse food $3.99 can give you.

[Bob Timmermann]

76.  Phillipe's does have an ATM on site.

[trainwreck]

77.  So Phillipe's is better than Canter's?

[Bob Timmermann]

78.  77
I don't think they are comparable dining experiences.

[D4P]

79.  Phillipe's does have an ATM on site

Well, that's to their credit. But I'm guessing there's some kind of "convenience" fee associated with using it...

[Bob Hendley]

80.  I recall being thrilled with the notion of Randy in Dodger Blue in DS, but can't recall who else we had on the table.

[Eric Stephen]

81.  77
The only Canter's I have had was at Dodger Stadium, so I can't comment other than that, but I liked Philippe's better. I guess it depends what kind of sandwich you are in the mood for.

[KG16]

82.  56 - i had a girl convinced in high school that Griffith Park was named for one of my ancestors, and i think i had her convinced that i got a cut of ticket proceeds.

i miss cheerleaders.

[trainwreck]

83.  The extent of my LA dining that was not just some random place or fast food, consists of Mel's and some diner with a giant menu next to the bowling alley.

[Bob Timmermann]

84.  If Philippe's accepted credit cards, it would likely have to raise its prices a bit to account for the bank fees.

Also, Philippe's does a lot of business and it doesn't seem that it's hurting for customers from people who don't want to carry cash with them.

[cargill06]

85.  Ned Colletti will be on ESPN 710 in roughly 15 minutes.

[cargill06]

86.  85 Or maybe 5 minutes, they're conflicting thier times.

[kinbote]

87.  68 I know a little German. He's sitting over there.

[bhsportsguy]

88.  71 Or you could get one as a prize for showing up first (or second next to me) at the next Dodger Thoughts picnic.

I usually order the lamb sandwich. I have never ordered the ham sandwich.

At least 2-3 times a year when I am at Dodger Stadium, their credit/debit card machines go out and it becomes cash only.

77 Completely different, Canters would be the kind of place you would go to after a night of drinking (see "Swingers"). Phillipes is the place to go for breakfast if you have an early court appearance or to pick up lunch or dinner for the game.

[bhsportsguy]

89.  84 The dumpling place I went to recently (recommended by Marty) did not take credit cards.

[Bob Timmermann]

90.  88
But what if I have to go to night court?

Court? At night? I'm already laughing.

[bhsportsguy]

91.  90 I had a crush on the original public defender on "Night Court."

[trainwreck]

92.  I should have probably eaten breakfast. All this food talk is making my mouth water and I do not even know what any of it tastes like.

[jdbeauchamp]

93.  Good tips, all.

My French Dip experience comprises BJ's, Arby's and some "Home of Beef Dipped Sandwiches" in Fort Smith, Ark., so my questions continue:

Does the bread come pre-soaked or is it a dipping affair?

Is cheese part of the equation?

Will I be hazed, a la Chipotle, if I take a couple of seconds to peruse the menu?

Is this mustard a sweet mustard, hot mustard or Pouponesque?

[fanerman]

94.  92 Haha me, too. I need to eat lunch...

[Bob Timmermann]

95.  91
Paula Kelly or Ellen Foley?

[trainwreck]

96.  It is all about Markie Post. She was raised in Walnut Creek!

[Eric Stephen]

97.  I liked Night Court as well. I'm a sucker for homages to old TV shows or movies in sitcoms. The My Name is Earl Rudy episode was great.

Go figure: I can't stand Notre Dame, but I love the movie Rudy.

[trainwreck]

98.  Randy Johnson was born in Walnut Creek. So it all comes together.

[Jim Hitchcock]

99.  92 I knew I was smart to pick up a few mini slim jim's at lunch.

[Eric Stephen]

100.  93
I believe the bread is pre-soaked. Cheese is not standard, at least from what I remembered.