The Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles Bleedin' Blue Thread

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090312&content_id=3972750&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

I certainly wouldn't mind Pedro returning if he's still got anything left in the tank.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-charitablecontributions-grievance&prov=ap&type=lgns

Now there's a bad PR move by the Players Association.

 

I agree with the Players Association. The Dodgers shouldnt be able to force me to give money to a charity. Especially if it's a Dodger charity.

 

I agree with you, but it's a blank line. They can put $0 if they want.

That said, if the Dodgers want to make a public stand, why don't they just donate $2M a year to charity, as an organization, and just reduce all future contract offers by 5%?

 

Well, I shouldn't be forced to give money in taxes to welfare but it still ends up doing it. If you don't want to donate money to charity, then don't sign with the Dodgers or don't put down anything on the contract. It's simple.

Pretty much. You don't have to donate. Just fill in an extra line on the contract. That's all.

They (or at least out of McCourt's pockets anyways) donate a significant amount towards their own charities as far as I recall.

 

You're assuming they'll let you put zero. I'm not certain they would. How would you feel as a Dodger fan if you lost Manny or the next big FA target because your owner wants to try and force them to give to a charity?

 

They fill in a blank line on a contract with no pressure or force by management on how much. McCourt's already said as much. Since management can't tell you how much to put down, you have the freedom to put any amount down. 0's absolutely a reasonable amount. $0.01 can be a reasonable amount.

 

Yes it's a blank line. But Manny put down 1 mill after "negotiations". It isnt like they say hey, here's a blank line add something if you want. They pressure you to put something.

Why have it in the contract at all if it's completely voluntary?

 

Who's to say Manny wasn't charitable and trying to re-up his badly hammered rep? If he was at all forced to donate 1 mil, that would be something he personally would take up with the union to file grievance. It is a blank line, add something if you want but just add something unless other details emerge. Till then, that's the impression given by what's out there. You're free to put down anything. There is no pressure and that's been re-stated a lot of times. And the Dodgers aren't the only ones. The union also filed grievances with 22 other clubs on this matter including the Angels and Rockies.

It's in the contract to give the player the option to do so through the contract.

 

I'm not saying I see where the Union is coming from because it's against the Dodgers. I havent really heard much of this story, other than that article and a report on it last night. If it is voluntary, and it's simply a player option, then I dont see the big deal. I suppose even if it is mandatory, the player has the ability to either try and negotiate that clause out of the contract, or go elsewhere. I know if the Angels lost Lackey, for example, because he didnt want to give a mill to the Angels charity I'd be pissed at the team.

 

The gist of what I got from all this was that it was a voluntary player option that becomes binding when signed on contract. The union objects because it's not in the CBA though I've read it loosely follows Article II. I'm sure clubs can't require a player to donate an amount dictated by the club but they can include a donation clause in contracts which the player can essentially void by putting 0 or $0.01. I liken it to that little donation box on certain forms that you don't really have to give money to but you at least have to check no for logistic purposes. Here it'd be just like a penny or 0. Again, I haven't seen the actual wording but from what quotes and info is out there, that's what I got from it.

 

The Dodgers acquired Orioles closer George Sherrill for third base prospect Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson, according to MLB.com. The Orioles likely will turn struggling Jim Johnson or veteran Danys Baez to close now.

 

lets go blue

 

Where is all the Dodger fans. up 2-0 now.

 

Am I theonly Dodger fan left on here? Next, Go Dodgers

 

Nope. Dodgers had a tough time beating the cards this year. This sweep is great. Don't know who to root for between the phils and rockies.

 

Yes. No one wants to be a loner, switch teams imo.

 

GO DODGER BLUE

 

Kershaw going Game 1 is the right call, he has the best stuff out of anyone on the roster by a wide margin, plus he's left handed against a left handed heavy hitting Phillies team. I'm just shocked Torre is giving the ball to the young pitcher instead of a veteran like Wolf, but it's the right call.

 

Lets GO DODGERS!!

 

Goodluck guys! Im all for a freeway series!

 

Jon Garland isn't very good, that's why he was left off the post season roster. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

He pitched 2 games (16 innings) in his post season career. Yes he was good in those games but it's a very small sample size and considering his career numbers him continuing that doesn't look good. He can still offer veteran leadership from the bench.

 

Damn the Phillies gave the Dodgers an early Christmas gift in Game 2. Charlie Manuel always makes some questionable moves. Pedro Martinez was mowing the Dodgers down and then Charlie decides to go to his "reliable" bullpen, who blow it as usual. The bullpen and Charlie are probably the two things that will keep the Phillies from repeating.

 

house was rockin' tonight

 

Both games were awesome. Might go tomorrow night too.

 

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....yet another October Choke job!!!!!

 

Deja Vu anyone?

 

Go San Francisco.

 

Frank McCourt filed documents yesterday accusing his wife Jamie of falsely representing herself as one of the Dodgers' owners in a trip to Taiwan last week. During the trip, Jamie and her driver/boyfriend presented Taiwanese officials with Dodgers swag and passed out business cards with the Dodgers' logo on them and everything.

This totally ticked off Bud Selig, who sent Frank the written equivalent of Rocco Lampone telling Fredo that if he can't handle his drunk wife, Michael says he has to. The letter was attached to McCourt's filing. If the request is not heeded, I presume that someone will take McCourt out fishing on Lake Tahoe as this drama draws to a close.

In any event, this is nice and ugly now, and that may depress Dodgers fans, but it may also bring all of this to a head sooner rather than later. In his filing Frank asks the court to accelerate the determination of team ownership, which most had figured wouldn't be resolved before next summer at the absolute earliest. If the court buys what Frank is selling -- and, really, Jamie seems way out of line here -- it could be wrapped up before Opening Day, which would be a very good thing for the team.

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thats a funny line.......

 

The Dodgers have reached agreement on a two-year contract with outfielder Matt Kemp, according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.

The deal ~ while shorter then expected ~ will cover the 25-year-old Kemp through his arbitration years. He hit .297/.352/.490 last year with 26 homers, 34 stolen bases and 101 RBI, and is quickly turning into a fantasy superstar. Financial details have not leaked, but Kemp should see a substantial raise from the $475,000 he made in 2009.

 

Following up on Matt Kemp's deal, Chad Billingsley has signed a deal avoiding arbitration as well. One year, $3.85 million.

Billingsley is 24 years old with a 47-30 record and 3.55 ERA in 634 career innings. He was stepped over, Fredo-style, in the playoffs, and it was reported that the Dodgers were dangling him for Roy Halladay after the season ended. I guess giving the guy $3.85 million is the arbitration equivalent of "ah, I didn't mean nothin' by it, baby. I still love ya."

 

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that Jonathan Broxton will make $11 million in his new two-year contract with the Dodgers.

Broxton earned $1.825 million last season, and was eligible for arbitration for the second time this offseason, so he gets a sizable raise while providing the Dodgers with some flexibility moving forward. The 25-year-old right-hander put up a 2.61 ERA and 0.96 WHIP last season while striking out 13.5 K/9. He's the best closer the National League has to offer.

 

The Dodgers and C Russell Martin avoided arbitration on Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.05 million contract.

Martin, who turns 27 next month, had a down year across the board in 2009, with career-lows in batting average, home runs and RBI, but still gets nearly a $1.2 million raise. The five homers during the second half hinted at a rebound, but he's one of the bigger question marks on the team entering 2010.

 

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that the Dodgers and Andre Ethier have reached agreement on a two-year contract extension.

The financial details of the deal have not yet been leaked but he's in line for a large raise from the $3.1 million he earned in 2009. The 27-year-old batted .272/.361/.508 last year with 31 home runs, 106 RBI and six stolen bases. He'll start in right field again this season.