Dodgers Web musings: Trying to see clearly on Chad Billingsley’s contract extension

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Interesting comments being generated by Chad Billingsley’s agreeing to a three-year extension for $35 million to $36 million.

I’m thinking some people are so upset with the Dodgers that no matter what the team does they automatically lash out. Even the jaded have to allow for an occasional nod of the cap.

What’s wrong with locking up a young, effective right-hander for another three years at the going rate? This is not a bad thing. This is actually a pretty good thing.

The Dodgers eliminated his last year of salary arbitration and locked up his first two years of free agency at an average of $12 million per season. And he’s only 26.

But if many of those leaving comments have been harsh on the Dodgers and Billingsley, a more measured response has emerged out in the blogosphere.

Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness’ Mike Petriello, ESPN/Los Angeles’ Jon Weisman, True Blue L.A.’s Eric Stephen and Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron all gave the deal a favorable review. Cameron even wrote that Billingsley left a lot of money on the table.

Also on the Web:

--The Times’ T.J. Simers checks in with the one bright spot that most every Dodger fan can agree on: Vin Scully.

--The Times’ Leon Furgatch makes a case for the notion that, when the Dodgers moved west, they should have changed their name to the … Yang-nas.

--Dodgers.com’s Quinn Roberts writes that reliever Lance Cormier said the Dodgers have told him he’s made the team. That would lock up the last bullpen spot.

--For the second consecutive year, the Dodgers have been earned the Bobby Mercer Award for the highest amount of money donated by its players to the Baseball Assistance League. The Yankees also repeated in the American League.

--For those battered by all the predictions of the Dodgers finishing third in the National League West, have found someone who thinks they take the division, Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan.

--SB Nation’s Rob Neyer thinks the Dodgers’ 2011 fortunes could rest largely on the success of their bullpen.

-- Steve Dilbeck