The First Spring Training Game

Baseball is officially back today. In my mind, it really doesn't become official until they start playing Spring Training games. They can play all of the intrasquad scrimmages they want to, work on pickoff plays, and all of the baserunning drills they want to, but it doesn't become official until they throw the first pitch.

I have to agree with Philbeck of the Los Angeles Times. I am paraphrasing but this might be the most boring Spring Training in Los Angeles Dodgers history. Barring injuries, the roster is pretty well set and there probably won't be any major changes. There are no rookie phenoms set to take the Dodgers by storm and there are no has beens bidding to have one more outstanding summer in the sun.

I think the Dodgers need more infield depth, especially at the corners. I am not sold on Juan Uribe being the everday Third Baseman, so it was interesting to see that non-roster invitee and natural Third Baseman Josh Fields got his playing time today at First Base, behind James Loney. He might make the team backing up the corners based on his versatility but there are several players on the team that can play multiple positions.

Outfielder Scott Van Slyke hit a mammoth Homerun today but I don't care how much he hits, I would have to believe he is ticketed for AAA Albuquerque. I also believe he is a little old to be considered a prospect anymore, especially with all of the time he has spent in the lower minors. If he can hit at all, I am sure the Dodgers could use him at some point and time during the season.

Starter Chad Billingsley had a solid two innings today but Nathan Eovaldi was a little shaky in his two innings of work, issuing a couple of walks. I also don't see him making the Dodgers when they break camp and he will probably end up back in AA Chattanooga.

3 In The Top 100

MLB.com released their top 100 prospects for Major League Baseball in 2012 the other night. The Los Angeles Dodgers placed 3 in the top 100, all of them right-handed pitchers. The Dodgers minor league system is not the system they had in the late 1970's and early '80's when they practically owned the Rookie of the Year Award. They do not really have any major league ready bats in the farm system.

Right-handed pitcher Zach Lee was the top rated Dodger prospect coming in at #46. The Dodgers signed him off the practice field of LSU's football team and the results have been pretty good to this point. He is still a work in progress with his secondary pitches but is a power arm and the potential is definitely there.

Nathan Eovaldi was next and was ranked in the low 70's. He logged some innings with the Dodgers last year and finished with a record of 1-2 but might end up back at Chattanooga to start the season. Consistency has been his biggest issue to this point.

Another Right-handed starting Pitcher Allen Webster came in next at #79. He struggled a little bit at AA Chattanooga last year posting an ERA of 5+ but has an excellent upside. He will probably start the season back at Chattanooga to start the season.

Dodgers Potential Ownership Groups Part II

Magic Johnson- Magic Johnson is Los Angeles Sports. After his Hall of Fame Basketball career was cut short, he became an entrepreneur in the Southern California area and he may have the financial backing to pull it off. He would do what needs to be done as an owner to put a winner on the field.

Mark Cuban- He is the most intriguing possibility as an owner. As the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, he is a fan's owner. He is a visible presence at all of the games, he is very passionate about his team, and he does what it takes to put a winner on the court. There is no doubt in my mind that he will do the same for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is also a visible presence in the Dallas community. I may not agree with everything he says or does but he is all about winning.

Dodgers Potential Ownership Groups Part I

The Dodgers ownership looks like it is finally going to be settled. At least for the time being. The plan is for the sale of the Dodgers to be finalized by the end of April. They accepted somewhere in the neighborhood of ten bids and Frank McCourt predicted that the final sale price will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5 billion.

All of the ownership groups have a face in front of the money. I am not familiar with the man behind the money so I am going to concentrate on the faces.

Joe Torre- This is the least attractive of the Dodgers ownership options. Although he is a career baseball man, I have never been a Joe Torre fan. I believe he and Ned Colletti are the biggest reasons behind the on field mess and the depleted minor league system (currently ranked #22 in a Minor league Ball website posting). I doubt there would be any improvement if he was the face behind the new ownership group.

Orel Hershiser and Steve Garvey- These two icons of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball are attractive as an ownership option for that reason. Steve Garvey was fired from his public relations position by Frank McCourt in the middle of last season because of his desire to own the Dodgers. Orel Hershiser is still actively involved with baseball as an anouncer for ESPN. Once again, the money behind the faces may not have enough clout to pull this off.

Ethier and Loney

This past week the Dodgers signed Andre Ethier and James Loney to one year contracts and avoided arbitration. I am surprised they are both still with the team. Ned Colletti's decision to stand pat should be a given but at least he didn't trade them and prospects for an aging over the hill veteran.

I have hopes that Andre Ethier can return to his 30 Homerun, 100 RBI performance of a few seasons ago. The Dodgers really do not have anyone from the minors waiting in the wings and I do believe that Ethier has lost a lot of his trade value. Unless the Dodgers make a move in Spring Training, he will be the opening Rightfielder on Opening Day 2012.

I also have hopes that James Loney can finally reach his potential. He is only good for about 10-15 Homeruns a year but he should be able to hit the 100 RBI plateau. Once again, the Dodgers really do not have anyone waiting in the wings although Prince Fielder is a viable free agent option. However with the Dodgers current financial status and the ownership situation being unsettled, the Dodgers cannot afford to make a big free agent splash.

The Non-Roster Invitees

The Los Angeles Dodgers list of Non-Rosters Invitees to Spring Training got a whole lot more interesting when they invited 29-year-old Third Baseman Josh Fields to Spring Training. The Dodgers really don't have a true Third Baseman on their roster right now. Fields bounced around the minors and Japan last season after coming thru the Chicago White Sox organization and spending some time with the Kansas City Royals. He will never hit for a high average but he could provide some pop at the plate and play a decent third base.

The Dodgers need another left-handed reliever. That is why lefties Alberto Castillo and Will Ledezma stand a decent chance of making the team if they have solid spring training performances. They both have major league experience.

Catcher Josh Bard is also an intriguing invitee. The Dodgers top three catchers are A.J. Ellis, Matt Treanor, and Tim Federowicz and none of them are really that impressive. Treanor and Bard have the most experience of the bunch and I don't know if any of them will hit.

Ned Colletti's Whiff 'N Poof Express

I remember seeing a BC comic strip one time where a sports reporter was interviewing the manager of the BC baseball team and he asked him if his teams lineup had a nickname like "Murder's Row" or the "Gas House Gang". The BC manager replied yes, he did, they were called the "Whiff 'N Poof Express".

That comic strip reminded me of Ned Colletti's free agent acquisitions in the past several years. This years crop of Catcher Matt Treanor, and infielders Mark Ellis, Adam Kennedy, and Jerry Hairston, Jr. are all at the tail end of their careers and are all utility men at best. Mark Ellis and Adam Kennedy are probably going to be penciled in as starters at Second and Third Base, respectively, and Catcher Matt Treanor may end up being the starter at Catcher.

Colletti's track record with these signings is not too good and I can use last years signing of Marcus Thames and Jay Gibbons as a reference point. I can only hope that someone emerges from the non-roster invitees or the minor leagues to take over a few positions.