Dodgers owner Frank McCourt honored by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce

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Dodgers owner Frank McCourt was honored by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City event this morning for his part in altering the course of the Los Angeles Marathon, which now ends at the Santa Monica Pier. McCourt heads a group that owns the operating rights for the race.

McCourt took a few minutes to talk about the Dodgers during his acceptance speech.

“It’s been a very quiet off-season for me,” said McCourt, prompting the crowd in the 499-seat Broad Stage auditorium to explode with laughter.

McCourt highlighted the measure of the stability gained by his club by agreeing with three of their arbitration-eligible players on two-year contracts, signing General Manager Ned Colletti to a “long-term” deal and engaging Manager Joe Torre in talks about an extension.

McCourt came as close as he has ever come to saying that hitting coach Don Mattingly would be the Dodgers’ next manager, telling the audience, “I’m quite certain that [Torre’s] successor already is somewhere on our staff, let’s put it that way.”

“Oh,” McCourt added, “and for those that are watching closely, we will get another starting pitcher.”

-- Dylan Hernandez