Ain't no Camelback girl ...
Few people realize that was the original chorus of Gwen Stefani's mega-hit. But poor test results during some early listening parties led the No Doubt songstress back into the studio, where she made a little tweak involving "holla" and the rest is history. But the Dodgers are hoping to have better luck with the "Camelback" name, as it's part of the moniker for the new spring training facility in Arizona.
Who will actually be swinging revamped maple bats for the Dodgers come spring time? Well, that's still something of an undecided matter. But considering the bad national economy may not be reflected in the free-agency deals coming down the pike, should the Dodgers want to act upon Joe Torre's interest in keeping Raffy Furcal around, it could involve a pretty penny. And a long-term commitment. Despite a bum back that kept Furcal on the shelf for most of 2008, his agent insists there are bidders in the pipeline, one of whom will inevitably give his client a few years worth of loyalty in exchange for services.
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I once dated a Camelbak girl. Had a lot of fun and stayed quite hydrated.
Posted by: gus2327 | November 21, 2008 at 03:01 PM
After much deliberation, we've decided against a couple references that have been made regarding the new name of the Dodgers ST facility. Let it be known that both made us laugh... but while the term itself isn't inherently "dirty," it invokes an image that may not be appropriate to this forum.
I'm guessing you know who you are. Sorry about that. Like I said, I thought it was funny (and made the same leap upon hearing the name...)
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | November 21, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Way to toe the line, guys.
Posted by: SaMo | November 21, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Well, at least I'm not the only one who thought that, so I don't feel so bad now.
Posted by: Eric B. | November 21, 2008 at 04:54 PM
I begrudgingly went PG. Just know that the devil on my other shoulder was blowing me up with various sullied references and images.
Nice break from the CC or Manny Sweepstakes...Tastes Great, Less Filling!
Posted by: gus2327 | November 21, 2008 at 07:20 PM
We could sign Darryl Strawberry, have him fail a drug test, and have him be "the Straw that broke the Camelback".
Ok, pretty crummy, could not resist after a few beers.
Posted by: TimDodger | November 21, 2008 at 07:51 PM
I can't believe there letting Joe Beimal go
FOr this overated manager (Joe Torre) wasted Joe BIemal as a situational reliever
And now there letting him go????? He is one of the best reliever's in the National League West....if not the entire National Leauge.....If not all of baseball!!!
Posted by: Aryan | November 22, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Aryan,
Don't worry. REPKO!!!!! can replace Biemel.
Posted by: Chunkdog | November 22, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Aryan--I hadn't heard that, but you're right; letting Beimel go makes no sense whatsoever. He's the quintessential situational lefty, which is something every team needs. And reliable versions are hard to come by; don't they see how reliable Beimel has been? Letting him go makes no sense whatsoever.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | November 22, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Actually, letting Beimel go makes all the sense in the world, and is exactly what I expected would be the case.
Young and inexperienced as he may be, I believe that the Dodgers see Scott Elbert as being capable of filling Beimel's shoes. Beimel did a nice job for the last few years, but was a lot less dominant against lefties in 2008 (.278 BA against vs. .188 BA against in 2007). Beimel most certainly is eligible for salary arbitration, and I'm guessing that the Dodgers would prefer to put that money to work elsewhere. Having Elbert able to potentially fill the vacuum only makes the decision easier. Kuo also figures into the equation.
Finally, assuming the Dodgers offer Beimel salary arbitration, they also stand to gain a sandwich pick in next years draft, given that Beimel is a Type B free agent. And although such a pick is unlikely to bear immediate fruit, it is, nevertheless, the means by which the Dodgers were able to obtain Blake DeWitt in 2004, as compensation for the loss of Paul Quantrill.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | November 22, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Maybe because I'm a city boy, the name "Camelback Ranch"
makes me think of a hilly mountainess region, mostly of light brown dirt.
Posted by: Joe Pierre | November 23, 2008 at 07:40 PM