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Post by 88bulldog on Feb 21, 2019 22:11:04 GMT
"Wonder if Panic or Sue has seen this? Guessing one of them is on a ledge somewhere; the other is probably planning her annual geriatric tour with the Moody’s."
Good point about both. Maybe the groupie changed favorite teams again (hopefully).
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Post by Blunashun on Mar 1, 2019 4:35:57 GMT
Dodgers were reportedly willing to pay Bryce Harper $45 million per year on short-term deal Harper reportedly had wildly different offers on the table but chose the Phillies and $330 million guaranteed by R.J. Anderson @r_j_anderson 2 hrs ago • 1 min read Whereas the Giants made a long-term play, offering Harper 12 years and more than $300 million, the Dodgers went a different route: putting forth a short-term pact with a massive AAV. Per MLB Network's Jon Paul Morosi, the Dodgers were willing to pay Harper $45 million per season across four years: www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/dodgers-were-reportedly-willing-to-pay-bryce-harper-45-million-per-year-on-short-term-deal/ |
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Tinkles
Veteran
Pet my kitty
Posts: 64
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Post by Tinkles on Mar 1, 2019 6:28:20 GMT
I'm glad Harper turned us down. I can't stand the guy.
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Post by Blunashun on Mar 2, 2019 1:10:08 GMT
(The Times' muckraking at it's finest.).
Dodgers whiff on Bryce Harper and a chance to solidify a franchise for a decade
By Bill Plaschke
Feb 28, 2019 | 3:55 PM
The Dodgers blinked.
Locked in a duel for the services of a player who could have brought them their first World Series championship in 30 years, the Dodgers blinked, and Bryce Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, and suddenly everything feels different.
(Different from what? They sing the same song every year.).
The Dodgers blinked, and the growing shouts around Los Angeles have become one giant sigh.
The Dodgers blinked, and the cheering for the arrival of a transformational superstar at Chavez Ravine has devolved into two wringing hands.
The Dodgers blinked, and now you have to question, what exactly are they looking at?
They had a chance to lock up a charismatic 26-year-old slugger who could be the swaggering face of the franchise for the next decade. They flew to his Las Vegas home this week in what appeared to be a successful attempt to convince him of their charms. It seemed like Harper was all but begging to come to Los Angeles.
(Like The Times begs me for money.).
Yet the Dodgers let him go to the one place he clearly didn’t want to go. They lost him to Philadelphia. Really? A city that is far from his West Coast vibe, a team that won’t immediately contend for a championship, and a dugout that is run by the eccentric Gabe Kapler. (Former Dodger front office exec. Plaschke hasn't forgotten.).
The 13-year length of Harper’s contract is insane. The $330-million value is crazy.
(But...).
You know what’s also insane? The Dodgers collecting more than $8 billion on a television contract that essentially keeps the games out of the homes of the majority of Angelenos.
(Didn't see that coming.).
You know what’s also crazy? The Dodgers generally raising prices even though the team continually falls short of raising a championship flag.
(Let's get McCourt back in here.).
This year, for example, advance parking rates have increased from $15 to $17, with day-of-game parking still at $25.
(How much does Bill pay?).
You know how much general parking costs at an Angels game in Anaheim? Ten bucks.
(Later then.).
According to Team Marketing Report, the cost of taking a family of four to a Dodgers game has jumped 31%, to $268, since the first full year of Guggenheim’s ownership in 2013. That’s an increase of one-third with a championship payoff of zero.
(You'd still complain anyway.).
The Dodgers blinked, and now you have to blink and realize the truth.
While Andrew Friedman and his crew have admirably built six consecutive West Division champions and two consecutive World Series teams, an organization with buckets of chips will not push them all in for a shot at one big pot.
In his five years here, Friedman has never spent more than $60 million for a free agent from outside the organization. Even when he has paid big money to retain the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner, he’s never paid out more than $93 million. Those are outrageous sums, of course, but in the high-priced world of baseball’s top free agents, that just doesn’t play.
(Slick the way he marginalized paying our own players.).
Make no mistake, the Dodgers’ method of building from within and making a big splash at the trade deadline — Manny Machado, Yu Darvish, Rich Hill — has worked. They are always playing in October. Once there, they always have legitimate title aspirations. They generally fight to the finish line. Two seasons ago they finished one win short. Last year, three wins short. It’s indeed tough to blame the lack of a big-time free agent for Darvish’s meltdown, Cody Bellinger’s swing or Hill’s departure in the seventh inning.
(But...).
It has worked, but it’s not worked well enough, and it’s tough to think they’re not doing everything they can to win that last series, that last game, that final pitch. In a star-driven town where the most popular franchise brings in LeBron James and actually celebrates the chance to spend more big money, it’s hard to swallow the notion that the Dodgers would forsake a chance at even one more win to watch their wallet.
(Love the Lakers, but how are they doing?).
One of baseball’s richest franchises pursuing a willing recruit like Harper and then losing him strictly over his salary demands just doesn’t equate. Harper almost certainly won’t be worth $330 million. He certainly wouldn’t have hurt, though, and it certainly would have been worth it to frustrated Dodgers fans to find out.
(Did he just contradict himself?).
The word is that the Dodgers might have gone as high as five years and $225 million for Harper. The guess here is that he would have taken less money to come to Los Angeles, considering it easily was his first choice. Couldn’t there have been a compromise in there somewhere?
(You guessed wrong if Harper took the biggest contract.).
Now Harper takes his talents to a place where some media and fans mercilessly ripped him earlier this week when it appeared they had lost him to the Dodgers. One talk show host tweeted that Harper “can go to hell.’’ A talk show caller said he wanted to spit on him.
(What would our reaction have been if roles were reversed? What is Plaschke's constant refrain with the Dodgers?).
Dodgers fans would have loved him, but the Dodgers won’t pay for him, so now they will prepare for the 2019 season without him, another solid team playing in a lousy division, probable West champions again, but beyond that?
(Pure hell.).
There’s little buzz. There’s dwindling patience. A.J. Pollock is their big free-agent acquisition, but can the injury-prone outfielder stay on the field? Friedman probably will do something big again at midseason and make it work. But will it work well enough?
(And here I thought Bill was constantly buzzed when writing.).
If it doesn’t work again, well, next winter they can always spend big on Colorado’s Nolan Arenado ... nah, he just re-signed there. OK, then they can spend big on … ah, forget it.
Once again, when it comes to bringing a star to Hollywood, the Dodgers are more about raising prices than raising hopes.
(Bet you wish there was something personal you could still "raise.").
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Post by 88bulldog on Mar 2, 2019 17:17:38 GMT
This year, for example, advance parking rates have increased from $15 to $17, with day-of-game parking still at $25.
_______
I call that a bargain.
I paid $65 at Fenway.
Yankee Stadium is routinely $40-$50.
Citified is $25
Met Life is $30.
Haven't paid $15-17 in at least 10-15 years.
Hardly something to complain about IMO.
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20DodgerMiracle24
Legend
Rob Manfred is a disaster to our national pastime.
Posts: 1,792
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Mar 2, 2019 17:21:48 GMT
This year, for example, advance parking rates have increased from $15 to $17, with day-of-game parking still at $25. _______ I call that a bargain. I paid $65 at Fenway. Yankee Stadium is routinely $40-$50. Citified is $25 Met Life is $30. Haven't paid $15-17 in at least 10-15 years. Hardly something to complain about IMO. Maybe a bargain in relative terms. And BTW it's over $40 in Arlington, TX, I learned a couple of years ago and it's valet. I learned to avoid parking costs altogether, by taking the train to Dodger Stadium. I used to love to do that on a weekend day game, then walk 2 miles to 9th and Figeuroa to have a great breakfast at the Pantry, then walk another 2-1/2 miles to the stadium, then after the game, walk back to Union Station. A couple of times, I drove to the Super 8 motel, walk to the stadium and stay a night or two. |
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Post by Blunashun on Mar 2, 2019 17:50:27 GMT
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jrgreene6
Legend
Married . . . With Cats
Posts: 7,442
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Post by jrgreene6 on Mar 2, 2019 17:53:56 GMT
This year, for example, advance parking rates have increased from $15 to $17, with day-of-game parking still at $25. _______ I call that a bargain. I paid $65 at Fenway. Yankee Stadium is routinely $40-$50. Citified is $25 Met Life is $30. Haven't paid $15-17 in at least 10-15 years. Hardly something to complain about IMO. Not to mention if you can get to Union Station downtown by train or other means, they run a FREE shuttle up to Dodger Stadium that actually is significantly faster than sitting in traffic just to get into one of the stadium lots. We used it for both WS games last year. Parking here in Cincy is a real bargain based on what I read. Some lots are as low as $3, but you have to walk six or seven blocks. Lots & garages closer to the GAB are $10 - $15. Last time we were in DC, parking there was $45. GO DODGERS!!! |
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20DodgerMiracle24
Legend
Rob Manfred is a disaster to our national pastime.
Posts: 1,792
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Mar 2, 2019 17:57:56 GMT
I stopped listening to Plaschke over 11 years ago, when he suggested we should trade Kershaw and Kemp to the Twins for Johan Santana, a "proven" star pitcher. Well, after that stupid article, Santana proved he was past his peak, while the "unproven" Kershaw won three Cy Youngs, and the "inexperienced" Kemp proved to be a very productive hitter, the Dodgers winning many division titles and making the fall classic twice. |
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Post by 88bulldog on Mar 2, 2019 18:13:37 GMT
This year, for example, advance parking rates have increased from $15 to $17, with day-of-game parking still at $25. _______ I call that a bargain. I paid $65 at Fenway. Yankee Stadium is routinely $40-$50. Citified is $25 Met Life is $30. Haven't paid $15-17 in at least 10-15 years. Hardly something to complain about IMO. Maybe a bargain in relative terms. And BTW it's over $40 in Arlington, TX, I learned a couple of years ago and it's valet. I learned to avoid parking costs altogether, by taking the train to Dodger Stadium. I used to love to do that on a weekend day game, then walk 2 miles to 9th and Figeuroa to have a great breakfast at the Pantry, then walk another 2-1/2 miles to the stadium, then after the game, walk back to Union Station. A couple of times, I drove to the Super 8 motel, walk to the stadium and stay a night or two. That's along walk for sure. 4+ miles has to take close to 90 minutes. Good exercise. |
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Post by 88bulldog on Mar 3, 2019 3:04:39 GMT
By MIKE DIGIOVANNA
MAR 02, 2019 | 4:25 PM
Dodgers' equipment managers relieved they won't have to issue a No. 34 jersey this season
While most Dodgers fans were angry and disappointed that the team failed to offer Bryce Harper a more lucrative deal, there was a sense of relief in one part of the team’s spring-training facility when the free-agent slugger signed a 13-year, $330-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Harper wore No. 34 during his eight years with the Washington Nationals. Had he requested that number in Los Angeles, it would have left equipment manager Alex Torres and long-time clubhouse manager Mitch Poole with a dilemma: Do they issue a number that has not been worn since Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela in 1990?
“It came to my mind,” said Poole, who has been with the team since 1985. “I would have asked Fernando first and got his blessing on it, and it would have been something the front office would have to deal with. But for now, it’s safe.”
The Dodgers don’t have a written policy for retiring numbers, but each of the franchise’s retired numbers were worn by players who were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame with one exception — Jim Gilliam, the former infielder who was the team’s first-base coach when he died at 49 before the 1978 World Series.
Valenzuela, whose rise from the obscurity of Navojoa, Mexico, to 20-year-old Dodgers pitching phenom in 1981 spawned the “Fernandomania” craze, has not had his number retired. Poole just hasn’t issued it to anyone since the left-hander last pitched for the team.
“I’ve known Fernando for a long time, and he was the man when I first started out,” Poole said. “He meant so much to this team and the Latin American community. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future with Fernando’s number. I just think leaving it alone right now is good.”
Harper did not request No. 34 from the Phillies out of respect for Hall of Famer Roy Halladay, saying at Saturday’s introductory news conference that the former two-time Cy Young Award winner, who died in a 2017 plane crash at the age of 40, should be the last Phillies player to wear that number. Harper will wear No. 3.
Poole said the only other Dodgers player to request No. 34 was Manny Ramirez, who was traded from Boston to the Dodgers in 2008. Ramirez wore No. 24 with the Red Sox, but that number is retired for Dodgers for Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston. Ramirez didn’t get his second choice, either.
“I said it was Fernando’s,” Poole said. “He was OK with that.”
Ramirez eventually settled on No. 99.
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Post by 88bulldog on Mar 3, 2019 3:06:14 GMT
Have to admit it crossed my mind too. I'm one who would be in favor of having fernando's number retired.
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Post by Blunashun on Mar 7, 2019 3:18:39 GMT
MLB offseason grades: Phillies dominate the winter; White Sox, Giants, Pirates have lousy report cards
In a slow offseason, a few teams managed to stand out
by Katherine Acquavella
2 hrs ago • 20 min read
Los Angeles Dodgers: C
The NL West is the Dodgers' division to win again even after suffering a huge talent loss this winter. Los Angeles added A.J. Pollock, Joe Kelly, and Russell Martin but lost Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Yasmani Grandal, Brian Dozier and Matt Kemp.
Both Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will return in 2019 after Kershaw signed a three-year, $93 million extension and Ryu agreed on the qualifying offer. The team will still be at the top in their division, but it's just not a successful winter when you miss out on both Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber. They'll stay under the luxury-tax threshold again though.
Colorado Rockies: C-plus
Colorado's best move of the offseason was signing third baseman Nolan Arenado to an eight-year, $260 million contract extension. Getting the deal done early relieves pressure off both sides, and locks down Arenado as the franchise third baseman.
The other noteworthy offseason deal was the signing of veteran Daniel Murphy to a two-year, $24 million deal. Murphy has a proven ability to hit in key situations and has a chance to provide decent value, especially when he's healthy. He'll play first base and Ian Desmond will return to the outfield. Colorado has a young starting rotation, run-producing bats in the lineup and playoff experience. Even after a fairly low-key winter, they should be able to make their presence felt again come this October.
Arizona Diamondbacks: C
The D-Backs faced an important decision this offseason after their September collapse: attempt to retool the roster, rebuild entirely at once or keep select players and try to build around them. Arizona chose to rebuild.
The club traded first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to the Cardinals. They also saw Patrick Corbin leave for the Washington Nationals, outfielder A.J. Pollock sign with the Dodgers, catcher Jeff Mathis join the Texas Rangers, veteran utilityman Daniel Descalso leave for the Cubs and right-hander Clay Buchholz sign with the Blue Jays.
Right now the Diamondbacks' plan is have Jake Lamb (third to first) and Ketel Marte (second to center) switch positions as a start to address the gaps from the winter's significant losses. But the team still faces serious issues with its bullpen, even after the acquisition of veteran arm Greg Holland.
San Francisco Giants: F
Quiet offseason is an understatement for San Francisco. They're a team in the middle of a rebuild, with an aging core of players and a drained farm system.
When San Francisco appeared as a late contender in the Bryce Harper sweepstakes, it could've been the big signing they needed to jumpstart their path back to relevancy. But no Harper, and instead they signed pitchers Derek Holland, Drew Pomeranz and Pat Venditte all to one-year deals.
San Diego Padres: B-plus
The Padres have a talented farm system and bright hopes for the future, and signing Manny Machado will accelerate their path to winning. Even though the team is probably still a few years away from legitimate contention, the addition of Machado gives their infield the potential to become one of baseball's best.
At first base, there's Eric Hosmer, veteran Ian Kinsler will play second base until Luis Urias is ready to take over, top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. will be the Padres' shortstop and Machado will be the club's new third baseman. The turnaround isn't going to happen in 2019, but Machado will be a foundational piece in helping shape the young core's development.
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Post by Blunashun on Mar 7, 2019 3:21:43 GMT
How does the Dodgers carving off grist get the same grade as the Dbacks gutting their team & starting a rebuild?
In all of MLB, this author only gave A's to the Phillies & Cardinals. This is part of why the Cards got an A.
"No Bryce Harper and no Manny Machado, but the Cardinals rebounded with the additions of star reliever Andrew Miller and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. With Goldschmidt, St. Louis has a big-time bat which should help the Cards get back to the playoffs."
What the F?
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Post by Blunashun on Mar 10, 2019 7:36:25 GMT
Dodgers should sign Craig Kimbrel
By BlakeHarris@BlakeHarrisTBLA Mar 8, 2019, 2:05pm PST
It’s not every day that you have a chance to sign one of the best closers in the history of the game. Sure, he likely won’t be a closer with LA, but the Dodgers absolutely need to do whatever it takes to try and sign Craig Kimbrel to a contract.
After the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado sweepstakes came to an end, all the attention has shifted to the forgotten big-name free agent on the market, Craig Kimbrel.
Kimbrel, 30, is coming off a season in which he went 5-1 with a 2.74 ERA. He also had 42 saves, his most since the 2014 season.
Yes, I know, I know, the Dodgers already have a closer. A pretty damn good one at that. But, you have a chance to form the greatest eighth-ninth duo in the game.
As we’ve seen, Kenley Jansen has struggled with health recently, and he’s no guarantee to make it an entire season without hitting the DL. Also, it should be noted, Jansen has an opt-out at the end of the 2019 season. Not saying he’s going to leave, or he even opts out, but it is something to keep an eye on.
It’s been reported that Kimbrel is seeking over $100 million. I’ll say this now. There’s absolutely no way he gets that from the Dodgers. Frankly, I don’t think he’ll get that from any team. There has never been a reliever to get that kind of money, and with how stingy teams have become as of late, I don’t see it happening anytime soon.
So, what exactly should the Dodgers do?
Offer him a one-year deal worth whatever he wants. Now, of course, lets keep it within reason. But if he were to ask for a one-year deal worth $25 million, the Dodgers should 100 percent offer that to him.
As it stands, the Dodgers do have one of the better bullpens in the national league, but they can become the clear best if they were to add Kimbrel.
It’s unclear as to whether or not Kimbrel would be open to signing with a team where he won’t be a guaranteed closer. Clearly, he wants to get his money. And clearly, teams are hesitant to give it to him, and with good reason.
Yesterday I took to Twitter, and asked Dodgers fans what they thought of offering Kimbrel a one-year contract. For the tweets sake, I said for only $20 million a year. With nearly 1,000 votes, 68 percent of fans said LA should sign Kimbrel.
Again, bullpen isn’t necessarily a huge need for the Dodgers, but signing Kimbrel for a short-term deal would be a huge move for the team.
The season starts in a few weeks, and Kimbrel doesn’t have a team, nor does he look close to signing with one. If we wants to get his money this season, and have a chance to compete for a title, the Dodgers seem like a match made in heaven.
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