PROGRAMMING NOTE: Tune in to Purple, Gold, and Blue today at 12.  Just click the show icon on the side of the page. We'll have Jon Weisman of SI.com and DodgerThoughts on as our guest to talk baseball around 12:40 or so. 

UPDATE (6:30 pm): The podcast is up.  It was a lively discussion.  Baseball starts about 35/40 minutes in, runs for about 25 minutes or so.   And in A-Rod news, apparently he's engaged in Boras-less discussions with the Yankees.

Though it's not entirely certain if the Dodgers love Florida back.  No, we're not talking about all the recent trouble with Dodgertown, but the Miguel Cabrera Sweepstakes.  The Marlins likely love the Dodgers (and Angels) because they have the most raw material to give up in exchange for Cabrera. Florida is looking for pitching, and the Blue have some good young hurlers.  It is, according to a source, "a question of who they're comfortable giving up." 

Well, yeah.  Aren't all trades a question of who a team is comfortable giving up? 

Meanwhile, on the other end of things, TJ Simers doesn't think the Dodgers will really make a play at A-Rod, and that the MVP will end up in the O.C.  Jim Caple of ESPN.com says that if you don't want Rodriguez on your team, the problem is you, not him.  Good discussion about the role of "chemistry" and how it takes a back seat to talent.  For the most part, I agree with what he's writing. 

BK

Okay, my words about King, while believable, aren't actually true.  But will King's words about Jeff Kent turn out to be more iron clad?  It remains to be seen, but according to the softball lobbing talk show host, the crusty old vet (Kent, not King) is planning to return to the Dodgers next season.  The second baseman is apparently stoked to play for one Joe Torre and, presumably, has let bygones be bygones with the kids he feuded with towards the end of the season.  Either that or he and Matt Kemp will take it to the Octagon and settle matters once and for all.  Whichever comes first.   

What's even more odd than getting this news from Larry King is the notion of him and Kent chatting on the phone.  Maybe it's just me, but those two strike me as a couple odder than Felix and Oscar.  Kent hates the media.  King is the media.  Kent often goes out of his way to keep people (especially the media) on edge around him.  King always goes out of his way to prevent a guest from feeling even slightly on edge during an interview.  Kent digs motorcycles.  I shudder at the thought of King on a hog.  I'm racking my brain, but can't figure out where the common ground is found.

MLB.com's Ken Gurnick may not know the answer to that question.  But he knows a lot of answers when it comes to the Dodgers.

-AK      

The Dodgers, unless they'd like to once again suffer the slings and arrows of another season without production from the hot corner, need to upgrade.  That's no secret.  And with the news that Miguel Cabrera has been put on the block by the Marlins, the clear options for serious improvement have just doubled. From one to two, but still doubled.  Now it's either Alex Rodriguez or Cabrera.  Both are outstanding players, both would make the Dodgers better, and would (at least in theory) solve the third base issues for years to come. 

So which way should Ned Colletti go?  Assuming, of course, he could get either one?

The Dodgers formally welcomed coaches Larry Bowa and Don Mattingly into the fold Thursday.  Both worked with Joe Torre back in New York.  Bowa will coach third base, while Mattingly is currently slated to be the hitting coach.  Donnie Baseball's role could change, though, based on how the Dodgers and Torre fill out the rest of the staff.  There's still a good possibility that pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and first base coach Mariano Duncan, holdovers from Grady Little's group, could be retained.

Bowa said he anticipates none of the clubhouse problems that the Dodgers had last season continuing into next.  Not with Torre around.  (Note: Here, it's again worth mentioning that the Dodgers didn't lose last year because of the rift between young and old, but because their pitching fell apart.)

And, along those lines, I seriously doubt the potential return of Chan Ho Park will solve that problem.  This fella, however, might.

BK

The big, flashy prize at third base (and everywhere else, really) this offseason is, of course, Abraham Nun-- I mean, Alex Rodriguez.  But there are other high profile options potentially available.  ESPN.com's Keith Law breaks down a few, including the ever expanding, both in talent and waistline, Miguel Cabrera.  Though there are signs that Mike Lowell could re-up with the Red Sox, though not before the end of the GM meetings tonight, taking one big name off that list. 

With the selection very thin on the FA market, to land a big 3B fish that doesn't come with a lot of Scott Rolen-esque injury risk, it'll likely take cash and players for Miggy or a lot more cash for Rodriguez.  Stay tuned.   It could be a very long winter.

BK

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Don't forget to join us for today's broadcast of "Purple, Gold, and Blue" at NowLive.com.  You can click the show icon on the side of the page to listen in.  Sign up at the site and you can also hit the show's chatboard, and should you miss it, the podcast will be available later today.)

... and back to work.  The hiring of Joe Torre prompted celebration the likes of which would put P.Diddy to shame, but with the official crowning now 24 hours old, it's time to for noses and grindstones to meet.  After all, life only stops during the "Jeff Kent Waiting Game".  And when instant replay begins (a decision that comes "100% Bill Plaschke Approved"), in the most figurative of senses (think about it).  Life continues, especially when it comes to free agency acquisitions.  Arms are in need and the Japanese League is about to relinquish one of their better ones.  A third baseman would be mighty nice and the Marlins are officially treating Miguel Cabrera like a house on the market.  O.B.O., baby!  O.B.O.!  A phrase, by the way, that absolutely WILL NOT come into play if a certain other third baseman is on the Dodger radar.

Congrats to Russell Martin for winning a Gold Glove.  One guesses it probably won't be his last.

UPDATE: In non-Torre related news, Russell Martin has won his first Gold Glove award.  Just got the release.  It's the first for a Dodgers catcher since Charles Johnson in '98.)

Then again, if that rock happened to be anywhere within a 50 mile radius of the Ravine yesterday morning, the news would have been difficult to miss, given how sky writing was about the only option spared in announcing it.  Center field was transformed into a press conference area, the dais filled with folks ranging from Vin Scully to Brad Penny.  Then came the man of the hour, pinstripe-free for the first time in a dozen years, getting a formal introduction in a grassy area where his hit dreams and out nightmares were often made as a player.  Surreal, to be sure, but the adjustment hopefully shouldn't come too difficult, especially considering the friends from New York he's importing for L.A. duty.  And the fact that the squad belongs to Torre, no questions asked.

While I recommend listening to the audio from today's events, I pulled a few quotes from Ned Colletti's meeting with the print media today.  There's some interesting stuff in it, from hints that Juan Pierre could be moved to left to a breakdown of the process by which Grady Little left and Joe Torre arrived.

Download ned_colletti_1_11.5 Torre Press Conference.mp3
Download ned_colletti_2_11.5 Torre Press Conference.mp3

The most interesting stuff, from a player standpoint at least, was listening to Colletti talk about the young players.  I know a lot of people are worried that the Dodgers' GM will once again put some vets in front of the kids heading into '08.  But while Colletti wasn't explicit about his plans- he rarely is- indications are that, at least in the outfield, there will be no Gonzo-esque additions this offseason:

(Click below for the pulls- I'm a tease like that...)

I didn't cover the Dodgers when Grady Little was introduced as the manager, but I have a sneakin' suspicion it wasn't met with the same sort of pomp and circumstance as the presser Monday morning that introduced Joe Torre as the new Blue skip.  This was a packed house, set up in center field, simulcast like a Presidential address on seemingly every television and radio network in town.  In short, this was a big deal, and treated as such.  The hot coffee and tea, given the chilly November morning (the pastries were a nice touch, too- makes me wonder if I got screwed at the refreshment free meet and greet to announce the signings of Juan Pierre and Randy Wolf) didn't hurt, either. 

Lots of folks in the crowd.  Local media, some national guys, more from New York.  Plus, a ton of people from the organization (which helps explain the applause heard throughout the press conference).  It was a little strange to watch the crew- Vin Scully, Frank and Jamie McCourt, Joe and Allie Torre, Ned Colletti- take the long walk from the infield to the podium.  Everyone smiling, the McCourts holding hands (would have been interesting if they all did), all in stride, shoulder to shoulder.  Very Reservoir Dogs.  Torre's comments to the media at large weren't earth shattering, by any stretch.  Some highlights:

• He admitted not knowing all that much about the National League, the roster he's inheriting, or what the Dodgers will need.
• Regarding the now famed rift between young and old players in the clubhouse, Torre didn't get specific, but talked about guys being on the same page.  "We're all wearing the same uniform.  It doesn't mean you have to go out and have dinner with someone every night, you don't have to invite them to your house," but when it comes to playing the game, everyone needs to be pulling the same direction. "So my job as manager is really all about communication."
• Torre said payroll dollars aren't the be all, end all.  It matters, it makes things easier, but a team doesn't need $200 mil in salary to win.   
• He's comfortable with A-Rod, and A-Rod is comfortable with him.  "We have a good association.  I think our relationship is fine." 
• Torre has talked to Brad Penny (who was there representing the players today) and Jeff Kent, as well.  "He seemed excited about the fact that I was becoming the manager.  We spoke about some things, and I sensed- and I don't know Jeff Kent....- but I felt pretty upbeat and pretty positive that he was looking forward to coming back next year."
• Looking in '08 to build "a strong foundation."  Again, he emphasizes developing lines of communication with players.  "I'm available.  My door is open, and it is.  Whether it's me or my coaches, we're going to make sure there are no questions that have gone unanswered."
• He doesn't seem torn up to be leaving the New York media, just because of it's sheer volume.

Quote pulls from Colletti and Torre's meeting with the print media coming up soon.

BK

I'll fill in around this, but for those of you who want more sound from today's festivities, here you go.  The press conference itself can be found here, or at Dodgers.com (just go straight to their site if the link doesn't work).  It includes introductions from Vin Scully and Frank McCourt, then Torre himself.  Beyond that, print media had time with both Torre and GM Ned Colletti.  Most of the conversation centered around the process that brought him here, as well as what changes might be in store heading into next season (including discussion of Juan Pierre moving to left).  A couple basic news items- first Larry Bowa will be the third base coach next year, and while Don Mattingly will also be part of Torre's staff, his role hasn't yet been determined.

Ned Colletti I- Download ned_colletti_1_11.5 Torre Press Conference.mp3
Ned Colletti II- Download ned_colletti_2_11.5 Torre Press Conference.mp3
Joe Torre I-  Download joe_torre_1_11.5.mp3
Joe Torre II- Download joe_torre_2_11.5.mp3

Plenty more to come.

BK