Drama Kings
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Stop in for Purple, Gold, and Blue at 11 am. Our guest is Jimmy Bramlett, Sports Editor at LAist.com. Click on the widget at the side of the blog, or go to our show page at NowLive.com by clicking here.
Give the Dodgers this much. They may be a fairly average team (and one game over .500 would qualify in most books as "fairly average"), but this bunch sure has a flair when it comes to keeping games interesting 
down to the wire. The previous series saw consecutive games with leads blown in late innings, then a Monday night scare before a win was preserved. Along those lines, it's not hard to believe that a 4-3 win over the Phillies came courtesy of a game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth. The clutch batsman was Andre Ethier, who didn't even begin the game as part of the lineup card. He provided a seventh inning pinch hit for the Bobble Head honored Joe Beimel, then remained in the fray as Juan Pierre took a seat.
For Ethier, getting into the game wasn't a given, although such uncertainty is a situation he's faced all season. The ASU product hasn't been thrilled about this lot in 2008 life, but he's chosen to talk more about staying ready than his specific beefs. Becoming the box score's hero could be looked at as a cosmic rewarding of professionalism.
Aside from a down to the wire nature, last night's game was also noteworthy for the return of Nomar Garciaparra from the Disabled List. He'll take the place of Andruw Jones, who's being talked about as a knee-addled player. How bad a knee- or even which knee- remains a source of debate, allowing some to wonder if this move could also be a face saver of sorts for the struggling outfielder.
McCarthyism is dead.
Larry Bowa's chat, for those who missed it.
Blue Notes will go out on a limb and predict the Dodgers make no claim.
TrueBlueLA.com takes a look at Jonathan Broxton and the "closer mentality." The verdict? He's fine.
Three in a row? If Brad Penny can build momentum off Friday's solid return from the DL, perhaps. Philly's Joe Blanton has very good of late since landing with a new team.
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They should keep A. Jones in the minors until he can prove he can hit AAA pitchers.
Posted by: steve02001 | August 13, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I can't believe the Dodgers wouldn't claim Shefffield. The guy is an oft-injured over-the-hill malcontent who plays a position where the Dodgers already have several youngsters competing for playing time. And he's due a lot of money this season AND next.
What, you say those are multiple reasons NOT to sign a player? Of course they are. But that has never stopped Ned from acquiring Jason Schmidt, Esteban Loaiza, Juan Pierre, Andruw Jones, or Nomar Garciaparra. So why should we come to expect anything different?
:-)
Posted by: SaMo | August 13, 2008 at 10:32 AM
AK/BK
Tried to get your show. Could not.
Package
Posted by: Package | August 13, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Server problems at NowLive mean we have to cancel today's show. Sorry about that. We'll be back next week.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | August 13, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Just curious: Who is that mauling Russell Martin?
Posted by: Tuxer | August 13, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Tuxer,
I believe it is Alyssa Milano.
Posted by: Chunkdog | August 13, 2008 at 12:22 PM
It is Swny. At least he's good for Bear Hugs.
Posted by: benzojones | August 13, 2008 at 01:02 PM
No!!! Her curse is back!
Posted by: poppinfresh | August 13, 2008 at 01:11 PM
According to a live blog Peter Gammons did today, he shares the following:
(1) The NYY will NOT sign Manny as long as Hank and Cashman are running the show.
"Q: What do you think of Manny's option for the Yankees next year?
Peter Gammons: I am told that as long as Brian Cashman is the GM and Hank Steinbrenner is owner, Manny will not be going to the Yankees. Their plan is to take the money they have stashed away and go after CC Sabathia."
(2) Manny will not get anyone to sign him for 4YR/$100M. - If so, given our current overloaded pool of OF's to choose from & the struggles to consistently field the best OF combination, would any of you fellow bloggers be against signing Manny for a term such as (3YR/$40M) as Gammons thinks Manny will go for??
Afterall, if we can sign Jason Schmidt to a 3YR/$47M contract, and get NOTHING OUT OF HIM, signing Manny for nearly the same amount, and getting 6 games (1 win) out of him would have to be considered a landslide success!!
"Q: Hi, Peter. Do you think Manny has reduced his value as a FA because of his treatment of the Red Sox? Are there teams who will avoid him because of that?
Peter Gammons: I think there will be teams that were put off by the fact that he did not wish to honor the contract he signed. There also will be teams that simply cannot afford to sign a player in his late 30's for more than $15m a year. He believes he's going to get $100m for 4 years which is why he didn't want to be tied to the possibility of making $40m over the next two years. If he can get more than $40m over three years, he will have done well."
Source: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/08/peter_gammons_q.html
Posted by: MANNY-VATIONS | August 13, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Whatever contract Manny gets, it likely will be his last big cashout, so it's going to need to be a big market team. Is Anaheim big?
Posted by: Benzo Jones | August 13, 2008 at 02:59 PM
I'll say it. How much freaking money does one guy need? I realize that they look at it differently than us and also view it as respect or validation of their place in history, but, for the love of Sprewell!
Posted by: Chunkdog | August 13, 2008 at 04:33 PM
I think signing Manny is a must. If the Dodgers would give AJ 36m for 2 years, they could certainly go for Manny @ 3 years 75mil. They need to do something as they will be full of holes even with the kids! Manny has proved his worth.
Package
Posted by: Package | August 13, 2008 at 05:43 PM
It's a little early to talk about Manny's Money. However, the next 2 months will tell. If he leads the Dodgers to the series it would have a huge impact. It'd be the difference between the 3yr/45-50 mill discussed herein and the 4 yr/100 mill numbers that Manny's people are throwing around.
Posted by: Ben Brown | August 13, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Why would Manny take $40 mil ffor 3 years when he tried to opt out of $20 mil options for 2009 and 2010? That's $40 mil for 2 years.
I'm sure he wants a four-year deal that will take him to agge 40 and pay him in the neighborhood of $80 million. To me, that's too much money in the last two years of the deal. Maybe a club option in 2011, but not otherwise. I know he makes the club better, but there are lots ofother options at those prices.
If the past two seasons have taught us anything, it's that big-ticket free agents have all been busts. Zito, Pierre, Schmidt, Jones. Even A-Rod is playing for a third place team.
I also think the Manny decision will be affected by how the team finishes this year. So far, they have about the same record with him as without him. If he's going to merit $20 million, they need to play .600 ball with him in the lineup. Otherwise, they can lose without him as well as they can with him.
Then again, baseball seems to be about making money more than about winning. If he's putting asses in the seats, maybe it's worth it. Maybe FAJ can sign him to his fantasy team with all the money he's stealing from the McCourts.
Posted by: SaMo | August 13, 2008 at 06:15 PM
It's amazing to me to think BorAss could talk Manny into sabotaging 40 million for 2 years just to make himself more money. I can't imagine what he filled Manny's head with but BorAss does have the track record for it.
If Manny really did act his way out of his contract he deserves what he gets. And it will have to be more than 20 mil per season now because he has to pay BorAss his percentage.
I can't see anyone giving him that much per year so Manny may end up losing money.
But BorAss get paid. Simply amazing...
Posted by: Andy B | August 13, 2008 at 07:04 PM