Changes at the skip
As most Blue Bleeders probably already know, there may not be a new sheriff in town yet (or at least not one with a signed contract... yet), but there will be, since Grady Little tendered his resignation yesterday. According to both him and Colletti, this was an amicable decision sparked by the former's personal reasons which had nothing to do with speculation that he was out. According to the those who ain't being named, this has been brewing for a while as the pair's relationship soured over the fallout of last season's ugly end. But no matter what the case may be, the Dodgers are free to... er, "start" pursuing any candidates they find sutiable to replace LIttle, the overwhelming majority of whom appear to be named Joe Torre.
When it comes to any theoretical interest on the Dodgers' part to replace Little with a now-available Torre, most media scribes can understand where the front office's inclinations. The timing and exectution (as well as the pieces of the explanation), however, left something to be desired. To be blunt, it appears on the surface like Grady's body was being removed before it was even room temperature, much less cold, which doesn't do Little particularly right, nor the front office particularly honorable. Of course, some would say that baseball is bidness and bidness be a bitch. Then again, there is such a thing as dignity, and it would be nice to see all parties involved emerge from the proceedings with a little more than currently on display.
In any event, "should" Torre end up the new manager when the dust settles, L.A. would find themselves with a new A-Lister to rub elbows with (which works out well, since it feels like another one is ready to price moving van companies). Another coaching staff newcomer could be Don Mattingly, who could keep tabs on his son's progress. And the Dodgers have no rules restricting hippie sideburns, making this a logical match. Will the Yankee trifecta be completed by membership from A-Rod? If not him, how about Yankee rival Curt Schilling, who lists the Dodgers among the baker's dozens of favorites.
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Just to add to what I said on this in the last thread.
I like Schilling for next year, if he does not decide to stay in Boston.
I worry about the rotation right now. It can look OK on paper (if you tilt your head to the side and attach a degree of wishful thinking), but there's no guarantee Schmidt will ever be the same pitcher he was, even if he gets healthy in time. Same goes for Wolf, if he's even re-signed. Slot 5 in loaiza's hands just does not bear thinking about.
Schilling, of course, is older and constitutes another injury risk, but who else is out there? (Please no Odaliz again).
I personally prefer the Schilling scenario to one involving parting with young guys in a trade for a long term deal (like the Kemp/Kershaw for Santana deal that was discussed a while back). Kershaw might be ready for 2009 and Schilling would be the perfect fit in the meantime.
Posted by: CleoMG | October 31, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Did anyone read TJ SIMERS ridiculous article?..........He said:
"Dodgers fans never did embrace Little, which really doesn't speak well of Dodgers fans"
Are you kidding me?....Were supposed to embrace a guy who put out SOOOO MANY RIDIUCLOUS LINEUPS?.....Was he not aware of h ow many times this moron of a manager benched guys that desereved to play or were hot?.....Or how many times he put out lineups that made you wonder what the blank is wrong with him?
He also said:
"Little was also Forrest Gump and an easy sap to blame for all that continues to go wrong with what has become a second-rate organization"
I mean come on does he think were that stupid that we just blame him because hes easy to slap around?.......What kinda moron is this writer?.......We "slapped" him around because he made so many nutty lineups and in-game decisions!!
He also said:
"Many of his managerial moves were second-guessed, fans buying the team's annual hype that it was better than it was performing, thus, the manager must be to blame"
Ok so on one hand he admits that his moves were second guessed, but then on the other hand he makes it seem like we were all just blaming him because we got suckered into the idea that the Dodgers were better then they really are......I mean what the hell is wrong with this writer?.......SOME OF US FANS know our Dodgers. Were not casual fans who just assume the Dodgers are good because management tells us there good......And we didnt blame Grady the moron Little because he "MUST BE TO BLAME".............is this writer for real?
He also said:
"But try to win with Bill Mueller at third for a day or so, or without Jason Schmidt pitching, or Juan Pierre playing center field"
COMMMMMMMMMME ON!!!!!.......Bill Mueller was hardly used.....And yes Jason Schmidt was injured, but we still had good pitching, and one pitcher doesnt make or break the season........and about JUAN PIERRE......ok......now im really annoyed.......I mean Grady is the manager!!!......He made the decision to play his second son JUAN PIERRE and he rarley ever benched him.............instead........he platooned MATT KEMP & ANDRE EITHIER..........even when JUAN PIERRE WAS DOING BAD, Grady Little usually stuck with him.................and yet this TJ SIMERS is acting like Grady had no choice???..........
.What kinda moron is TJ SIMERS
Posted by: Aryan Sood | October 31, 2007 at 11:53 PM
I think the Pitching staff needs as much attention as the lineup - Schmidt, Wolf, & Loaiza are all question marks in my mind. Leaving us with Penny, Lowe, & Billingsley. Not a bad start, but....
Since the market is kinda filled with so - so starters anyway - why not roll with who we have and build up the bullpen - We could use a long reliever - let Hendrickson go and try to be a starter somewhere else. - maybe Julian Tavarez who did a great job for Boston this year - who could also spot start if all those guys fall apart.
Resign Proctor, (Hopefully Torre can resist riding him into the ground!)
& maybe take a look at Kerry Wood - who could be a decent gamble -( Who comes with the risk of spending his entire contract on the DL which should send Ned scrambling for him!)
This way we could at least have a good pen to mop up when Billz goes 4 2/3 with 119 pitches - or when Penny & Lowe fade into their 2nd half slumps. & maybe one of Schmidt, Wolf, Loaiza comes correct- until Kershaw is ready to help us out at least.
Posted by: Jukuren | November 01, 2007 at 01:48 PM
I agree that it appears as though Grady Little was treated poorly in his so-called “resignation” from the Dodgers. It seems as though he was forced out because two days later they hired Joe Torre. If Little really left on his own accord, wouldn’t it have taken the Dodgers longer to find their new manager? Right away the Dodgers were cleared by MLB from having to interview minority candidates, and it is not entirely believable that this was because they already have enough minorities in high ranking front office positions. Instead, it seems as though the Dodgers were just trying bypass this tedious part of MLB’s interviewing process, because they already had Joe Torre. I support the statement that this occurrence “doesn’t do Little particularly right, nor the front office particularly honorable.” Grady Little is classy, and he would never do anything that would show disrespect to the Dodgers organization, and this is why he says that the choice to leave was his. However, he first said that the choice to leave was “mutual” between him and the Dodgers. If it was indeed mutual, which is how he put it first off, before switching to it being his desire, paints the picture that the Dodgers also wanted him to leave. This is not the way General Manager Ned Colletti has been describing it, putting the entire onus on Little, who still had one more year left on his contract. The numbers have not been released, but Little, who led the Dodgers to the playoffs in 2006, hopefully got compensated well for this “mutual resignation.”
Posted by: rkc | November 06, 2007 at 08:16 AM