Wow, this was completely unexpected. This seems like a pretty solid trade from a player-for-player perspective, but I'm not so sure that this was necessarily a good move for the Dodgers. Looking at Clark's numbers, he's had some pretty good success playing every day for the last few seasons, so I wonder how he's going to handle a reserve role. It would be unfortunate to have another Toby Hall situation in the clubhouse.

As for Loney, I have a feeling that he might still be safe (assuming that he was safe to begin with), and that Bigbie might be the one to go. Clark puts up 'Bigbie-like' projected numbers, except that he's a little more tested and not coming off a near-catastrophic injury. Ned may have a deal ready to go before Bigbie's Wed. deadline.

Either way, I do see Loney spending some extended time in AAA this season, which is going to be a shame. If the Dodgers aren't careful, they could blow their opportunity with the guy.

Keep Bigbie and give him a chance right now and let James Loney (“J-Lo”) start the season in AAA Las Vegas, here’s why...

Bigbie was a very highly regarded prospect whose career was sidetracked due to injuries, and he’s out of roster options. He's been the Dodgers Spring Training MVP (just ask Juan Pierre), and who knows maybe his potential will materialize for the Dodgers this year?!?

“J-Lo”, while he also has had a torrid spring training, still has roster options available and playing everyday rather than sitting on the Dodger’s bench is always more beneficial to young players.

Keep “J-Lo” busy playing everyday in AAA, and if or when Bigbie or Nomar gets injured then we can then bring back “J-Lo” to the big show and nothing is lost.

Who knows, both guys might end up with .300+ Avg. with 20+ HR and 100+ RBI’s!!

Either way the Dodgers win!!

GO DODGER BLUE!!

I've been sitting here thinking what I could type here to express all of the 290157843857 emotions I've been feeling lately re: l.a. dodgers baseball.

One: Raffy better be ready Opening Day like he says

Two: Repko, sad. de ja vous Werth.

Three: How much longer so I can catch a game on TV?, Why is it that FSN is only showing Angels Spring Training games, that crap pisses me off... oh sorry.

Four: I would pick Loney to make the Opening Day roster over Bigbie even though he is having a GREAT spring... but but but.. Loney cant go back to AAA pleeeeeeeeeease.

Ok thats it for now...

BTW hi all...

Yup...I cannot say I am not glad Dessens is gone. Just never warmed to him as a good pitcher. He did kinda win me over the end of last season and this spring. But as BK says, there are plenty of arms out there which are not only as or more lively but also cheaper. And he is going to a team with a shot at the post season. I think the Brewers are really much improved and better then they have been in a LONG time.

Clark does fill that hole in the outfield for a rightyrighty. Funny how the Dodgers have gone years w/o a decent lefty in the OF then all of a sudden the joint is lousy with them...I hope there is a Flanders' Leftorium near Dodger Stadium for their sake.

Yeah, Loney does seem destine for the City of Buffet's...hope he does not tell Penny about them of Penny might just need a few rehab months there too...

I don't see Clark as becoming another Toby Hall thing because the guy is not that great as an everyday player. Also every Dodger OF position is manned by players who are, well, better then he could ever be. Once 15 HR season should not give him delusions of grandeur...stranger things have happened though. So, we'll see what shakes out.

Mak:

I had been thinking that Bigbie might get traded but really Bigbie could be a way to cover things in the case Kemp struggles in LV this year. Hitting the off-speed stuff does not come easy for so many guys. And as we say once the MLB pitchers had book on Kemp he was pretty over matched. Having Bigbie might help temper the desire to maybe rush him too soon. But, I see the Dodgers keeping Bigbie and sending Loney down for a few weeks.

But, it is a shame that Loney is odd man out. But the thing is he KNEW this might happen and he obviously did nothing to find a way to learn the OF. Seriously had I been gifted to be in his situation my happy-ass would have been out every day in the off-season learning every OF position. Or at least the corners. What I am saying is he is ONLY a first-baseman and nothing seems changed there. If he does spend time in LV he can learn the OF corners. Baring major injury to Nomar that is going to be his only ticket for the next year. But he will certainly be the first guy called up the minute Nomar limps out to 1st or the plate. And that WILL happen.

Of course the backup for 1st in the meantime is Kent & the Tomato. The Dodgers of plenty of solid fill-in middle infielders.

Then again maybe the Dodgers would just like to find a good younger guy for Bigbie then keep Loney on the MLB roster? That could be the best option to help keep Loney positive about everything. But dude was ROUGH looking in the OF at best. Hitting wins games. Defense wins titles...

Grumpy

I don't like the idea of having Kent and Saenz to rest Nomar. If those are your only two choices (and Kent is going to need rest himself), Grady is going to be way too tempted to play Nomar almost every day, or at least not give him the time off he should so that he is strong come Sept/Oct.

Save Saenz for the key hit in the 8th or 9th. Keep Loney.

BK, great job breaking this story.

This seems like a pretty 'permanent' move to replace Repko. While Loney could be optioned and Bigbie let go without any great loss, Clark suddenly becomes a lock to make the opening day roster and to stay there for good. I guess this means that we have seen the last of Repko in a Dodgers' uniform, and that he will come straight off the DL into someone else's clubhouse.

Grumpy,

I fear you're accurate. It is just a matter of time before Nomar goes down. No offense meant, but look at his history. So, Loney will be back pretty quickly.

And you're also right, Loney is not an outfielder. If he plays out there, the Dodger infielders will end up on the DL from having to run farther out for the throws from Gonzo and Pierre and Loney's misplays (which really aren't his fault).

Anyone else bothered by this marketing trend? Giveaways used to be for all fans in attendance (unless they were geared toward kids, like lunchboxes). A couple of years ago, promotional items became for "the first 50,000". There is a towel giveaway early in the season for the "first 20,000". You mean the providers and the Dodgers can't afford items for everyone in attendance? Please!.

Grumpy,

"I don't see Clark as becoming another Toby Hall thing because the guy is not that great as an everyday player."

Hall wasn't exactly an all-star in Tampa before he came to the Dodgers, either. If Clark and Bigbie make the club as the 4th and 5th OFers, that pushes Marlon Anderson into the PH/Infield Reserve role, which doesn't exactly help the defense 'problem' that the Dodgers hopefully won't carry over into the regular season.

Are There any other Dodger fans living outside of the Golden State as PISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSED as I am about MLB moving their out of market games package to an exclusive deal with DirecTV ???

I'll have to sign a two year contract with DirecTV, plus pay $200 bucks to subscribe to the MLB package and if I want to cancel my contract early it almost $500 bucks penalty!!

I'm not sure how it is in other parts of the country, but isn’t this shrinking MLB's market of possible viewers as well as their $$$?!?!

Here in Upstate NY all we see are the east coast regional games and I'll never get to see my "Blue Boys" play

What, if anything can we the "far from home Dodger Die-Hards" do??

Thanks Makoto (although all I did was check my inbox, where the email from the Dodgers landed... but don't tell anyone... I'd like to look a little like Woodward and/or Bernstein here). As for the future of Repko, you may be right. He's a great guy and I think could be a good major leaguer, but to do that he has to stay healthy, and he just can't do it. The good news for him, at least as his Dodgers future goes, he's not a guy who will ever be expensive, and likely won't leave for a starting gig somewhere, at least not right away. So to some extent, it's easier to keep a role guy... but you very well might be on the money here.

Such is the business of it all.

BK

Can't say enough about Bigbie. The guys has been great. But give Loney a chance. He has nothing to prove in Triple AAA. He's been having a torrid spring. He's a legit 1st baseman. Raised through the Dodger organization and will reward the Dodgers for years to come. Send him back to Triple AAA, and one day this situation might come back to haunt the Dodgers.

I'm unclear as to why Ned was so desperate to get a righty outfield bat in the first place? By my count, we have 14 non-pitiching roster spots available , and two up for grabs. Of the 12 guys that are "for sure" making the team, 6 are pure righties (Nomar, Kent, Martin, Lieberthal, Martinez and Saenz), 4 are lefties (Gonzo, Ethier, Pierre and Anderson), and 2 can switch hit (Furcal and Betemit). This means that out of 14 players, at least 8 can hit right-handed. Why not let Bigbie and Loney have those two spots and have 6 righties, 6 lefties, and 2 switch hitters? Isn't that as balanced as you can get?
I'm not terribly sold on Clark--I don't see him being any better than Bigbie and actually think he might have less power than Bigbie. I hate to see him make the team purely out of virtue of being right-handed.

I think the Dodgers have replaced Repko and are not ready for Loney and BIgbie. What a shame, I felt sure Loney and Bigbie had made the club. Loney is probably odd man out. Clark is a ballplayer and will used. He is a good pickup. Bigbies status is certainly up in the air. He should make the club. Everyone is convinced that Nomar is a goner, but we will see. It is not good to continue to send players back to the minors after they have nothing to prove as is the case with Loney. Politically, he will say that he will do whatever is needed by the Dodgers but deep down inside, he is probably saying "Trade Me" or "What do I have to prove", to make the club. This is why I have been somewhat down on Betimit. Because I see the upside of Loney and feel that it is much higher than Betimit. I say use Nomar now and put the best possible foot forward. Accentuate tha positive, eliminate the negative, and stay away from Mr. Inbetween.

Mamas, don't let your Ja(y)sons grow up to be Dodgers....

Phillips.
Werth.
Repko.

Schmidt? TBD.

chuckdog:

I caught that first 20.000 fans thing in the ad the other day too. My only thought is they are trying to get more fans to the ballpark earlier. What McCourt might not realize is much of the reason so many get there late is because of the freeway issues that can easily still be happening at the 6pm time when so many would be leaving for the game. So, I am not sure this is going to be any incentive. btw, I have noticed in my work travels that other ballparks are doing the same thing. SO maybe it really is just cheaping out and using a carrot to lure people under a chance they will get something "free". Sad for the kids who are the ones that appreciate these giveaway goodies.

Mak:

You make a good point about the Hall thing in comparison to Clark. Maybe I just feel it might not be fair to Clark to put the disgruntled tag on him already. Dude has not even worn the uniform yet.

I still feel that Loney KNEW the plan for this season once the Dodgers signed Nomar. Either he really has a problem playing in the OF and tried to learn the positions daily during the off-season...or he blew it off, but the guy is not currently able to play out there at a MLB level.

If it was possible and Nomar could play 3rd then Betemit can fill in as needed with Loney at 1st. But it's very doubtful that Nomar can stay healthy as it is...ya know, here is a question. Suddenly thinking about Nomar's injury history, why is it I have a sense that almost all of Nomar's leg injuries have come while running the bases...not fielding his position. ???? If that really is the case then playing 3rd might not be so awful. Of course his rib-cage (or as they call them now lateral obliques) pulls are another matter. But I get the feeling most if not all of his injuries are from running the bases...yes? No?

Time to google 'till my fingers bleed... :)

good to be back for another season! hello everyone!

a few thoughts. 1. i cant believe that the dodgers made this trade. why would they get another mediocre outfielder for dessens is beyond my thinking. i would have at least got propects for him. dessens wasnt needed, but neither is the new guy. 2. i seriously hope the dodgers keep loney on the roster. putting him back to AAA i think will destroy his psyche and he'll feel disrespected. its obvious that he has nothing to prove in the minors and since this team is going to need all the offense they can get, he has to stay. this put me at odds with keeping bigbie because he kicked ass this preseason(this years cody ross). i want both to stay for sure, but loney should stay instead. 3. i hope the front office isnt making trades for the sake of it because they can with the surplus of players they have. sometimes the best moves the front "O" makes can be the ones they dont make right away.
see ya!

fyi, am listening tot he game via MLB online and the mets announcers SUCK. They seem to know nothing about the Met's let alone anything about other teams...

hey guys,
is there a first-rate, everyday power outfielder available that we could trade for ... NOMAR????

yes, nomah's a gamer, and we love him, but honestly, you guys are right about him sitting out with an injury soon enough. ... this frees up 1B for J-Lo and puts power in the line up.

whatchu think?

Hey BK/AK
Perhaps you can research Grumpys question on Nomar's injury history? Was his injurys caused by running the bases or some other way? He was injured on the Red Sox and the Cubs, right? How?

I'm watching the Blue Boys play the Mets in FL and Mark Hendrickson really sucks!! He's just walked the first two batters on 9 pitches and booted a bunt...bases loaded!!

He's about to waste the home run hit in the bottom of the last inning by Matt Kemp that tied up the damn game.

Run just scored, unable to turn the double play...GET RID OF Hendrickson!!

Re: Hall vs. Clark. Hall was 30 when he arrived on the Dodgers' roster; Clark will be 34 on 4/18. After last season, Clark must know he has something to prove.

If keeping Bigbie is a priority, the Dodgers should sell high and trade Marlon Anderson, if anyone is inquiring. Last year, while he came up big, was a statistical fluke.

Hey Grumpy
Looked up the info on Nomar myself. Couldn't wait for the Bros.
2001- Nomar played in just 21 games due to a wrist injury in which he had surgery.
2002 and 2003 were good years
2004- played in 81 games between the Red Sox and Cubs. Injury was right achilles tendinitis.
2005- Played in 62 games with the Cubs, some which were played at 3rd base. He was put on 15 day disabled list for avulsion of the abductor muscle- Groin!!
I don 't see any hammy questions.
As AK or BK says, What say you.

Brady Clark is a solid pick up, folks. He can hit for average, a little pop, steal some bags, and he won't try to get all Zinedine Zidane and slide tackle our own team's star shortstop out of the lineup for 3 weeks. . .

If it wasn't for Bill Hall, Brady would still be a starting MLB center fielder for the Brewers. Ned got a deal here because all he had to give up was Elmer Dessens, who had become irrelevant thanks to the bullpen depth the Dodgers had coming in to this season.

Give Brady a chance to play a little before you decide to pooh-pooh this trade. After all, before Ned picked up Marlon "the Magician" late last season, who on Earth thought Anderson would turn into a key power-hitting left handed bat off the bench that would propel the Dodgers into the playoffs???

In Ned we trust,
DBB

just remember the julio lugo trade (hell, throw in hendrickson and hall as well). like i said, it SEEMS like trading just to make trades. only time will tell.....

Package,

"As AK or BK says, What say you."

I demand you immediately give that line back to Mr. O'Reilly. I want no part of it. haha

AK

What about Nomar at short to step in for Furcal for now, and Loney at 1st? We play the season, take it day by day, and let Betemit play himself onto the bench. We then turn Nomar to third (he's a team player) when Furcal comes back, and have Betemit sub in for Nomar here and there when a lefty bat is needed in the lineup and Nomar needs a day off. Nomar collects his 9M paycheck.

Nomar happy - check.
Loney happy - check.
Dodger fans happy - check.
Betewho?

BK/AK
I truly am sorry. That line definitely is O'Reilly's

Hey AK/BK
Perhaps you need to have another conversation with Ned. He is really confusing me. I have no problem with the trades, and other business but I cannot see where he is going! The pickups are good but say to me that the kids are not ready.

this is the first time i have disagreeded with what ned has been doing sending loney down. Cut Clark and eat the 1.7 million owed to him{the brews are paying some of his salary so they are paying almost 4 mill for dessens} I agree with nomar at third or even at second next year when kent is gone. Loney is a STUD and is only 22 years old, this is the only time i would like to have a DH in th NL!!!! Betemit sucks i mean he cant catch the ball!!!!!!!!!! That being said im glad we dont have "real" problems like in the past by not having enough good players at all!!!

Package-

I think it depends on which prospects you're talking about. I think the Clark deal is much more about Kemp than Loney. As a left-handed guy learning to play the outfield, Loney was at a major disadvantage in that the three guys ahead of him all hit from the same side of the plate, and he's learning a new position. That he's had some issues out there in ST I think plays into the thinking. But without Repko, the next righthanded hitting OF in line was probably Kemp, and the Dodgers really want to give him a full year at AAA and let him develop more and learn to his breaking balls. It's pretty clear to me that they're doing what they can do put someone in his way, so they aren't forced to rely on him this year.

BK

Don't send LONEY down!!?? He's got nothing to prove in AAA and he wants to stay, whether he starts or platoons or sits on the bench. The kid will be scared if sent to AAA. He is the BEST HITTER in AAA last year and will be this year! He is not the BEST in the Majors but better than most and surely better than 1/2 the Dodgers on roster!

Look at it this way. We're giving the spot to CLARK?? I would much rather have Loney to come off the bench and hit and protect Nomar by filling in for him in the later innings of games already won / lost. We don't lose much with the bat compared to Nomar but gain a lot with the glove. Use Loney as a CLOSER at 1st Base of close games and any other game that is out of hand and also start some to give Nomar rest! This is so simple I'm sick at the thought that we would keep a "ONE SPRING WONDER" Bigbie or "OLD GUY" Clark over Loney! ... or as some one mentioned Marlon Anderson over Loney?? Come on guys, this is such a no-brainer I'm rambling!