Now You Can Really Feel a Sense of Ownership With Jason Schmidt

Hopefully the White Sox will not be able to find a replacement team and the whole thing will go away.
STAY IN VERO!!!

Will Penny be a Cardinal?

We'll throw in Bomko and Dessens.

What will the Cards offer up for Penny?

What could the Cardinals offer? Scott Rolen?

Wow! The Red Sox signed Matsusaka. To follow the famed, eastern biased press, you'd think that he is the equivalent of Koufax, Drysdale, Gibson and Marichal, all rolled into one.

Regarding the Cardinal rumors, I believe the best trade is Penny, Bombko, Timberrrr and a picture of Toby Hall by the pool for Pujols. Seems fair.

Scott Rolen is a great player, but I don't think he's really what we're after, and I don't think St. Louis can afford to deal him or they'll have a serious power shortage and lack of protection for Pujols in their line-up. So, I can't think of anyone that they have that I'd give up Penny for. Heard they were interested in maybe signing Werth if he's healthy.

If you guys want a good link to put on your "favorites" and check everyday for the lastest gossip, this is a good one.

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/mlb/mlbrumors.html

Penny and Betemit for Rolen and a mid-level prospect.

Len

Addition by subtraction:

Could we have the Dodgers trade Bad Penny to the Cards, and in return just ask that they never allow Joe Buck outside of St. Louis and never allow him to step in front of a Microphone again? If I never hear that self-righteous, silver spooned, boring hick ever again, it would be too soon, and well worth the price of giving Bad Penny away for free. (Sorry, BK)

FREE STEVE LYONS! FREE STEVE LYONS! FREE STEVE LYONS!!!

http://cdbaby.name/s/l/slyons.jpg

DBB-I AGREE 100%.

BAD PENNY.

NEVER MEET A LYON I DIDN'T LIKE.

propose lineup 07

pierre
Gonzo
Kent
Garciapara
Furcal
Sainz
Martin
Either

Did anyone ever notice the resemblance between Jason Schmidt and the head elf from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer? The off season is definitely too long.

Roster Update:
Barring a trade, Spring Training may be uneventful next year. With the 40 man roster we have right now, cutting to 25 should look something like this:

NOMAR
KENT
FURCAL
BETEMIT
SAENZ
MARTINEZ
ANDERSON
LONEY
ETHIER
REPKO
PIERRE
GONZALEZ
MARTIN
LIEBERTHAL

SCHMIDT
LOWE
PENNY
WOLF
BILLINGSLY
SAITO
BROXTO
TOMKO
BEIMEL
HENDRICKSON
DESSENS
(I BELIEVE THAT BARRING AN INJURY, THAT THEY'LL HAVE KUO STAY AT AAA TO BEGIN THE YEAR SO HE CAN START AND KEEP A REGULAR ROTATION SPOT. IF SOMEONE GOES DOWN, THEY'LL PLUG HIM IN LIKE THEY DID WITH BILLINGSLY LAST YEAR. LaRoche would have to look like the seceond coming of Mike Schimdt to unseed Betemit at third. I don't think Ned is ready to put much trust in him yet.)

Interesting article about what the newest Dodgers additions. There is a paragraph that mentions the Dodgers brain trust is sort of intrigued by the matchups with Penny in the 3-slot if the rotation. Here is the article:

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061213&content_id=1760779&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la

It's an interesting idea and potentially a very strong rotation. But that assumes Penny does not go in the tank falling into one of those 3-gallon barrels of Hagen-Das that Costco sells then punching out a hat rack all the while avoiding Kent for fear of actually getting his face pushed in.

But, if Penny sucks it up and actually shows the world he is a #1 that rotation would be worth it's weight in gold. Again assuming they can keep Penny from "troughing-up" at Hometown buffet.

I know that is a HUGE if!!

DDB:

Whatever it takes to get Lyons back on the air. He didn't do squat wrong...sacking him was something personal. Someone up the food-chain at Fox has a hard-on for him. I mean this is the same network that was all set to put OJ back on TV telling the world he did it! Well, DUH OJ!!! We already know that part...

LYONS GOT HOSED BY RUPPERT...

BK Wrote:

"...Once a Slim Fast pitchman, now he's Santa. Guess the shakes didn't take...."

I hate you!! Now I cannot get the image of Tommy Lasagne dancing to the MILKSHAKE SONG...I swear on the Holy Walter Alston, I dunno how, but I promise I will get even with you for this image in my brain!!

For now this will have to do:

http://www.reallyfunnyclips.com/clips/funny/peter---keliss-milkshake-song/

PS: If I dream of this mess then it is really on...! ;)

grumpy-

I feel your pain, but honestly, I'm not taking responsibility. That comes from somewhere inside you. Somewhere dark, I imagine (haha).

BK

The more I think about the Wells situation, the more I think we should turn our attention to Andruw Jones. The guy seems like he's been around forever, but he's only 29!! He has shown more power than Wells. Wells' seeming desire to play in Texas after this season (we'll see if he turns down the mega contract Toronto is offering him) and Ricciardi's statement that no team will get a chance to negotiate with him first makes me want to look elsewhere. I think John Schuerholz would deal fairly with us & give us a chance to negotiate first. I think Jones would jump at a chance for a "big market" and almost "guaranteed" winner as the Dodgers appear to be for years to come. It will probably cost us Penny, Kemp and, gulp..another prospect, but how good would Jones look hitting 4th between Nomar & Kent, Gonzalez, Betemit. If you can lock him up for at least 5 years, I'd be willing to give up Kemp. I know someone is probably saying "But we have Juan Pierre in center." Perhaps, Jones would be willing to play right--he has the arm for it. If not, Pierre in left, Jones in center, and "team player" Gonzo in right. If Ethier is not part of the trade, then he becomes a fourth outfielder this year and probably replaces Gonzo in '08. A lot of "what if's" but fun to think about. (BTW, I believe this post just qualified as "tampering" as per MLB bylaws.)

Jones' last 4 years
.277 36 116
.261 29 91
.263 51 128
.262 41 129

Apparently there was a huge crowd at the hospital, watching, waiting for Matsuzaka to take his physical. His physical!

Those people have no life.

Gary,
Don't know how you could put Furcal 5th. With current Dodgers, and I do believe it will change, I think you have to bat Raffy 1st (with his 100+runs scored) and Juan P second. If Furcal gets on then you have a lot of options. Since Juan doesn't strike out you can hit and run, and Juan is an excellent bunter. If Raffy steals second, then Juan can slap hit him in. If Raffy gets out, then you have a second lead off hitter to get things going. I think Nomar should bat third and see nothing but fastballs! Also, I like Martin in the 8th spot.

To everyone else: Been enjoying reading this blog for a few weeks, decided to finally jump in. When do pitchers and catchers report? Can't wait!

AK/BK,

Heard any "official" word as to why we were dangling Penny in front of the Cardinals?

you're right on DC...it's essential that Furcal bat first and Pierre hit second...Pierre will have about 125-150 opportunities to hit with the first baseman holding on Rafi and the second baseman at double play depth...leaving a huge hole on the right side and many opportunities for Rafi to go first to third...also, Pierre doesn't strike out making him a perfect hit and run guy...and he's a good bunter...furthermore he will put a great deal of pressure on the defense even in sacrifice situations because of his speed...