Rumor Mill: CC Sabathia and Cuban player Dayan Viciedo

Yahoo! Sports is relaying info that the Dodgers are in the midst of preparing their offer for CC Sabathia. Price tag: 6 years, $110 - 120 Million.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Dodgers-preparing-6-year-110-million-offer-to-?urn=mlb,123372

On another note, the Dodgers are also rumored to be showing interest in Dayan Viciedo - the 19 year old Cuban ball player who defected this past summer. Dayan made his debut in Cuban professional baseball at 15. 15!!!

http://blogs.pe.com/prosports/2008/11/dodgers-in-on-cuban-defector.html

BaseballAmerica offers the following scouting report blurb:

"Viciedo, born in March 1989, is listed at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, but reports are that he was bigger than that last year at the World Junior Championship in Mexico. Viciedo has excellent power and hitting ability, however, with one scout comparing him to Giants prospect Angel Villalona. He slugged over .500 two of the last three seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, its top-level league, hitting 14 homers in 2005-2006—as a 16-year-old—in his best season."

"His body could go the same route as Livan Hernandez, and when I saw him in Mexico, he wasn’t very good at third base anymore," one international scouting director said. "But he can really hit; in fact, I think he’s probably a better hitter than Villalona."

Dayan plays 3B, OF, and I have seen him listed at SS. For the life of me I cannot find any detailed stats on the kid.

Checking in on the farm hands. Who is Xavier Paul?

While the baseball world is consumed by the GM meetings in Dana Point, and Dodger fans hear about offers for Manny, a peek at the kids playing winter ball yields a big question:

Who is Xavier Paul?

And the answer is as follows:

• 4th round draft pick in 2003 out of Sidell High School in Louisiana
• Met the high-ceiling, 2-way player qualifications that the Dodgers look for in high schoolers (3B and Pitcher)
• Converted to outfield in the minors. Known for his left-handed bat and arm, not the glove
• Was the youngest player in major league camp when spring training began in 2008 (Kershaw didn't join the big boys until midway through camp)
• Broke camp heading for Las Vegas, and hit .315 for the AAA 51's in 2008.
• Stats in 115 games with the 51's: 443 AB's, 140 hits, 82 runs, 9 HR's, 68 RBI's, 17 SB's, .378 OBP, .463 SLG.

Here's the big part...

• Currently playing in the Winter Liga Mexicana del Pacifico for the Aguilas de Mexicali, and putting up some impressive numbers: 19 games, 72 AB's, 21 hits, 16 runs, 4 HR's, 10 RBI's, 4 SB's (been caught 3 times already though), .402 OBP, .486 SLG, .292 Avg. Those figures currently lead all Dodger prospects playing winter ball, including highly touted prospect Andrew Lambo and Ivan DeJesus.

As Ned re-engages in talks with the Padres regarding Jake Peavy - the Pads have said they are looking for 3 - 4 top-tier prospects consisting of a high level pitching prospect (or 2), outfielder, and middle infielder - could this be one of the chips on the negotiating table?

1st step to making a serious bid for CC

Declining Brad Penny's option...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3684744

1st sign the Dodgers will re-sign Furcal

Declining Angel Berroa's $5.5 Million option.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/10/20/dodgers.berroa.ap/index.html

San Diego Seduction Tryouts

There is a god.

Or at least a couple of perverts smart enough to realize they could make some scratch by paying young women to play football in lingerie...

In what was like witnessing a Bud Light "Real Men of Genius" commercial in action, the San Diego Seduction of the new Lingerie Football League held OPEN TRYOUTS at the Pacific Beach Rec Center this past Saturday.

I'll spare the additional commentary and just post the pics. Note: taken by my iPhone, so not of professional caliber.

I'm not saying "I CALLED IT!...but...

I CALLED IT! I pegged Scott Boras' first offer to the Dodgers for Manny Ramirez. 6 years, $25 Mil per year, $150 Million total contract. Check it, I even emailed T.J. Simers at the LA Times about it:

My post on LA Dodger Talk:

Ryan October 7, 2008 8:10 pm

Dialogue:
McCourt: Arte, did you hear my boys won their first playoff series in 20 years?!
Arte: Yeah, I did. Maybe your fans will forgive you now for a** raping them on parking and ticket fees. You know, when I moved to town the first thing I did was lower the price of beer at the stadium.

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/sep2007/db20070925_408918.htm?chan=top+news_special+report+–+the+power+100_special+report+

Now on to the payroll…

I read that article in the Rocky Mountain Times that Robert Timm posted over on tha Dugout. There is no chance (Repeat, NO CHANCE) that Boras will allow Manny to sign for 5 years, $85 mil. That’s a $3 mil per year pay cut from Manny’s BoSox option.

We WILL sign CC Sabathia (if Zito got 7 years and $126 Mil, look for CC to get 6 years and $125 Mil)

We WILL re-sign Furcal (he got 3 years and $39 mil last go-around. Look for something a little more lucrative as all of Torre’s comments on how he “never realized how good of a player Furcal was” will be used against us)

We WILL NOT sign Manny. Mark my words, after putting up 53 RBI’s in 53 games, getting the Dodgers into the NLCS and, god willing, the World Series, the asking price for Manny will be $150 Million - 6 years at $25mil per year. And, after missing the post season this year, Hank Steinbrenner will be dumb enough to pay it.

Did you guys all read the Bill Simmons piece on Manny? If you didn’t because of length (and it was a LONG ONE), you only need to read the last paragraph:

From Manny Being Manipulated…

Let’s pretend you were Boras last spring. First, grow fangs and imagine you sleep in a coffin. Second, divorce yourself from all parameters of human decency. (Concentrate on those dollars signs. Keep concentrating. Block everything else out.) Third, convince yourself the relationship between a player and his fans, no matter how long it has been cultivated, doesn’t matter even remotely. Fourth, keep reminding yourself, as long as you can weasel Manny out of that ‘09 option with Boston, you’re looking at a four-year contract elsewhere for $80-100 million … as well as a big fat commission for yourself. You feeling it? You feeling like Boras yet? (Touch your new fangs to be sure.) Well, here’s how you handle the “best interests” of your client: By molding Manny like a piece of cancerous Play-Doh. Maybe you start feeding him lines like, “Hey, I can’t make progress on that 2009 option, they’re really worried that you’re washed up” and “I don’t know what’s wrong with Theo, supposedly he was ripping you to Gammons last week.” You know every secondhand comment has a bigger purpose. You know those little digs will add up. You know Manny will start acting out. The rest is history.

I guess it goes without saying that I am waiting to buy my Manny Dreads and # 99 Jersey until AFTER the winter meetings.

Email to T.J. Simers:

Date: Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Subject: RE: Manny Ramirez made the Dodgers important again

T.J.,
If (and I believe it is a very big "IF") Manny Ramirez does not come back to LA, I hope you will utilize your sarcastic venom to paint the appropriate picture: that Scott Boras is Satan himself (Note: not reincarnate). That Scott Boras paraded his prize thoroughbred for 61 games, and then hamstringed the organization with a RIDICULOUS 6-year $150 million or more "reasonable offer".

If I were Frank McCourt, I would not propose any offer for Manny until we tabled the discussion of how to deal with Andruw Jones' contract. That fat f$#% hasn't been worth the paper his contract is printed on!

Just my 2-cents.
_______________________

I still stand by the rest of my words.

SI.com atricle reporting the first offer: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/10/15/heyman.manny/index.html

Happy Anniversary!

October 15, 2008 marks the 20th Anniversary of Kirk Gibson's home run off Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the '88 World Series.

ESPN has documented the event here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3644345

How can one have the audacity to question Joe Torre?

Forget about Manny.

Forget about Casey Blake, Angel Berroa, and Greg Maddux.

Forget about the youth movement, "can't miss" prospects, and platinum arms.

The Dodgers are in the NLCS for the first time in 20 years, because for the first time in 20 years they have a championship caliber coaching staff. During the post-Lasorda era in Los Angeles, the Dodgers have burned through 5 managers (1), 5 general managers (2), 3 owner / presidents (3), and countless coaches.

The inconsistency of the tone at the top has translated into 20 years of aggravating underachievement by Dodgers squads (not to mention the wasted millions on poor free agent acquisitions and numerous head-scratching trades). Call it "Blue Balls" - pun intended.

After 20 years of 1 post-season-win-ball, one would think that the sweep of the Cubs in the divisional series would satisfy the fans appetite. But what do we do instead? 2nd guess Torre for replacing Derek Lowe with lefty phenom Clayton Kershaw? For replacing Hong Chi Kuo with Cory Wade? For bringing Jonathan Broxton into the game in the 8th? For starting Juan Pierre in center in place of Matt Kemp?

How fickle the Dodger fan can be. Shame on us! Have we forgotten what this team looked like before September? They only had 1 month in which they posted a winning record. They were 3 games under .500 at the end of August! But instead of collapsing down the stretch like they did in 2007, they ripped off their best month of the year and steam rolled the Cubs in the NLDS.

Joe Torre just managed a team to the post season for the 13th consecutive year. And one could make the argument that - due to the injuries, learning curve of the youth, and well-documented personality challenges in the clubhouse - that his 13th year was his finest.

Thank you Joe Torre. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for steering this ship with your always cool hand. Thank you, not just for leaving New York, but for poaching the cream of your New York coaching staff crop - Larry Bowa and Don Mattingly.

You are the Dodgers best acquisition in 2008...and possibly ever!


Dodgers 2008 win-loss records by month:
March / April: 14-13
May: 13-15
June: 11-16
July: 16-10
August: 13-16
September: 17-8

References:
1 - Bill Russell, Glenn Hoffman, Davey Johnson, Jim Tracy, and Grady Little.
2 - Fred Claire left in 1998 following disputes with Fox over control of player personnel. Since his departure, Tommy Lasorda, Kevin Malone, Dave Wallace, Dan Evans, and Paul DePodesta have all served as general manager.
(3) - Fox Entertainment Group acquired the club from the O'Malley family in 1998. Bob Graziano was the President. Robert Daly then acquired a minority stake in the team and became Managing Partner, Chairman and CEO of the club in 1999. In 2004, Frank and Jamie McCourt acquired a controlling interest from Fox Entertainment Group.

I feel physically ill

Ugh...

Top of the 8th, 1 on, 2 out, 3-1 count, Martin sets up outside, Broxton misses the location and leaves the pitch over the middle of the plate.

I am going to try and drown myself in alcohol and hope that I wake up with no memory of the 8th and 9th inning of this game.

How do you say "Chin Music" in Japanese?

Hiroki Kuroda extended his dominance of the Phillies Sunday night, earning his 2nd MLB post season win, and the first NLCS win for the Dodgers since '88. Kuroda scattered 5 hits with 1 walk over 6 innings, surrendering 2 runs in the process.

With Sunday's performance Kuroda improved to 2-0 in 3 starts against the Phillies - all quality starts. He's allowed 4 earned runs on 9 hits over 19 innings of work (1.894 ERA), while striking out 15 and walking only 3.

The key to Kuroda's success was establishing control of the inner-half of the plate. Beginning in the 1st inning, Kuroda worked locations against Jimmy Rollins getting him to weakly ground out to 2nd, jammed Shane Victorino into an infield pop-up, and then sang chin music to Chase Utley on an 0-1 pitch. Utley wound up drawing a walk on the at-bat and then getting caught trying to steal 2nd base to end the inning.

As an aside, Utley - a So-Cal native, UCLA alum, and exemplary neo-hard-nosed ball player - appeared to barely flinch as the 94 mph projectile screamed past his nose. He turned his head, but no bailout whatsoever. More on how big of a baller I think Utley is in future posts...

...In the bottom of the 2nd, Russell Martin heard the same music as Utley on an 0-0 pitch from Philly reliever Clay Condrey. Martin's reaction to the pitch was slightly different to say the least.

Kuroda added some fireworks by throwing up and over the back of Shane Victorino's head in the top of the 3rd inning. Whether that was retaliation for Brett Myers throwing behind Manny in game 2, or retaliation for the shots taken at Martin in game 3 are moot points. The fact of the matter is Kuroda and the Dodgers set a tone: when you are at MY HOUSE, you will STAY OFF MY PLATE!

Kuroda followed his warning shot to Victorino with an intimidating confrontation and few choice words at 1st base. Kuroda is still in the process of learning English and speaks to the media and team through his interpreter, Kenji Nimura. Victorino probably doesn't know exactly what Kuroda was saying to him, but I think we're all fairly certain Kuroda wasn't extending and invitation for cocktails following the game. The result of the confrontation was both dugouts and bullpens clearing...no fisticuffs, just some frat-boy chest puffing and yelling.

Managers Joe Torre and Charlie Manuel are not the types to allow these incidents to carryover games, and both Victorino and Martin signaled during post game interviews that the incidents seemed to have resolved themselves. Whether the Dodgers are able to parlay the emotion of the win into a streak remains to be seen, but seeing as how the home team has won every game played between these two teams, the outlook is positive.

Perhaps most important of all is that Kuroda is set to pitch in game 6 back in Philly (Note this is not an "if" statement. There WILL be a game 6). Given his continued handling of the Phillies lineup, he should give the Dodgers an opportunity to win, and that's what's really important!

Nominee for a top 10 Dodger moment of all time

I'm not saying it's # 1, or even in the top 5 for that matter, but the Larry Bowa jump and Tiger-Woods-fist-pump in game 1 of the NLDS feels like one of the moments I will remember for the rest of my Dodger-loving life!

I mean, look at that extension!

If I can move like that when I hit 62, I will be very VERY pleased.

Derek Lowe owes Greg Maddux BIG TIME!

When Derek Lowe inks a fat contract this winter with an east coast team, he should consider paying Greg Maddux a commission. In 8 regular season starts since Maddux's arrival on August 20th, Lowe's numbers have been downright FILTHY:

Record: 5-1
Quality Starts: 6
ERA: 0.89 (only 5 earned runs in 50.2 IP's)
Batting Average Against: .176

For comparitive purposes, Lowe's stat line during his last 8 starts prior to Maddux's arrival looked like this:

Record: 4-2
Quality Starts: 5
ERA: 4.22 (23 earned runs in 49 IP's)
Batting Average Against: .268

Still not a believer? Then consider this: Derek Lowe had a 3.99 ERA on August 16th (his last start before Maddux's arrival). He finished the season with a 3.24 ERA.

On August 22nd, the LA Times ran an article on how Lowe received some pitching tips from Maddux. The article can be found here:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers22-2008aug22,0,3075458.story

The article doesn't mention too much in the way of specifics, just that Maddux "offered (Lowe) his opinion on what the opposing hitters were trying to do and what he might want to do to offset that." Whatever that opinion was, it definitely took!