OFFICIAL 2009 DODGERS OFFSEASON THREAD: (95-57) NL West Champs --- NLCS Chumps

[cincoseisdos]

So i'm writing this as the bases are loaded and Victorino gets plunked.

This is horrendous but i'm keeping this in perspective.

As a season, these guys did great. They handled the NLDS like pros and swept the Cardinals.

The NLCS, is the same exact story as last season. The bats are lost. The Phillies looking like godsends, and we're on our way to lose in 5.

Jonathan Broxton still wets the bed at the thought of pressure and Matt Stairs -- and quite frankly so do we as fans.

They won a tougher than expected NL West, competition is great and makes our own squad better.

Colletti has re-signed. McCourts are separating, Manny can still leave yet again this Offseason.

Martin needs to dump his girl and get back on that poutine + beignets diet.

Jonny Boy needs , well... I don't know what he needs but it's something.

Dodgers 2010 Free Agent Class

Brad Ausmus (C)
Doug Mientkiewicz (1B)
Orlando Hudson (2B)
Mark Loretta (UTIL)
Manny Ramirez (LF) $20MM player option
Jason Schmidt(SP)
Randy Wolf (SP)
Guillermo Mota (RP)
Will Ohman (RP) - $2.2MM club option with a $200K buyout

Schmidt is gone, as is Ohman. Safe to say Wolf is on his way out as well, O-Dog and Padilla too.

Will we be spenders? Will we stand pat? Will we move players?

Where do you think we need to bulk up, and if needed, who needs to get the boot from LA?

I'm not going to go as in depth as I did last offseason. This is beyond disappointing, this is terrible, this is bull %!@!. Last year I wasn't hurtbecause they got hot at the right time late August and just rode that wave into October. This year, we wrecked it all year, other people predicted such big things for this club, and yet here we are. New year, same spot.

Phillies have our number, they're THE NL team right now, and with good reason.

This season in my opinion is a wash in my eyes. I'll leave it at that.


At the end of the day, we're still fans. I don't follow any other American sport. This is who I live and die by. I'm stupid, i'm still going tobe getting my 2010 season tickets in hopes of yet another NLCS against the Phillies

Tomorrow i'll be officially ending the baseball season with a fresh haircut and the beard back to normal resembling a fresher DJ Drama

Discuss.

Thanks to all the regulars and the late posters. It's been fun. Off to the Winter...

 

[Los Angeles]

I'm gonna need a week or so to really absorb what a pathetic effort they gave in the NLCS ... yet again.

If we had any feeling we would reach the WS, it was going to be this year - this was the lineup that would set us over the top.

But yet ... we failed, the Dodgers failed, their heart was not as strong as the Phillies, their bats didn't have the juice theirs did.

How can we have such a great season, but fail again like this?

Man, tough.

 

[sinser13]

is sherill a free agent?

 

[icencream]

Trade Blake

 

[sohi 23]

Glad to see y'all fail.
Good season tho

 

[pdouly33]

Sherrill is arbitration-eligible.

I'll respond tomorrow with my thoughts in depth. I need to sleep on this.

Congrats to the Phillies.

 

[cincoseisdos]

Sherrell and Padilla are FAs

As is Belliard

 

[sinser13]

damn ned has lot's of work to do.

 

[Los Angeles]

Originally Posted by SoHi 23

Glad to see y'all fail.

and you talking with a raiders sig.

 

[in yo nostril]

cant wait for ethier and kemp to go to arbitration. mccourts probably sitting there clutching his wallet at the thought of it.

 

[ooiron manoo]

The title seems fitting, leave it up for the entire off season,

Just sent this text to a friend/co-worker:

"I'm going to buy a Phillies hat and rock it the entire off season at the stadium. When people ask me why I'm wearing it. I will tell them: Don't you know? These @+%%#+# own us, you have to respect our owners."

"Im going to rock the hat in front of Matt Kemp (Under the Lights)"

Going straight down the 40 man roster here:

Pitchers

Ronald Belisario- They found this dude in the trash bin, and he has been very solid. He deserves a raise, but that will lead to more crazy nights atWockano in Pasadena

.

Chad Billingsley- It is very dissapointing how he fell apart in the second half. There is no point in trading him when his value is low. Let's hope hecan become the Ace he was in the first half.

Jonathan Broxton-

Three words "Set Up Man".

Scott Elbert- Time to play with the big boys.

Jon Garland- They really should pick up the option, however, I doubt they will. Innings eater, solid #5 starter.

Charlie Haeger- Spot duty, candidate to be dropped from the roster or trade bait.

Clayton Kershaw- Time to shine, big things will be expected of him in 2010.

Hong Chih Kuo- He's amazing when he is not injured.

Hiroki Kuroda- 1 year left on his deal, middle of the rotation starter.

Brent Leach- Rosin companies love the kid, keeps them in business. Was inconsistent, probably start off in Triple A.

James McDonald- What a difference a year makes. We'll see if the Dodgers hold on to him, or package him in a deal.

Eric Milton- Gone

Guillermo Mota- Gone

Vicente Padilla- The only way I see him staying is if he accepts a 1 year incentive laden deal.

Travis Schlichting- Playing in the Arizona Fall League, will probably start the season in Triple A

Jason Schmidt - Gone. Thanks for nothing!

George Sherrill - Hopefully gets a good deal for a set of balls this off season, maybe he can find a 2 for 1 special so that he could buy a set for Broxton. Someone tell this guy he isn't in Baltimore anymore.

Eric Stults- I don't think he will ever be more than an emergency starter.

Ramon Troncoso- IMO, overused, and had a dead arm in the playoffs.

Cory Wade- Bum shoulder knocked him out in 2009. Hopefully he can rebound.

Jeff Weaver- Not a fan like most on this board, but will probably be brought back as a long reliever, since he is cheap. Colletti likes cheap.

Randy Wolf- I hope they bring Wolf back. A 3 year $24-26 million deal sounds reasonable.

Catchers

Brad Ausmus- I could see him coming back, either as a backup catcher or on the coaching staff.

AJ Ellis- 2010 backup to Russell Martin

Russell Martin- Lose the J on the back of your jersey, lose the girlfriend and gain the 15 pounds you lost. If he comes to ST looking like Turtle, the hemight be back to his old self. Needs to work on his arm,

.

Lucas May- If Russ has another bad season, May will be given a shot. Another year in the minors for Mr. May.

Infielders

Ronnie Belliard- I don't see him coming back, maybe as a backup to whoever we get to play 2b.

Casey Blake - 2 more years left on his deal. Watching him in the playoffs has been extremely frustrating.

Juan Castro- He's cheap and versatile, bring him back.

Blake DeWitt- They are either going to give DeWitt the second base job or they are going to include him in a package to get one (Dan Uggla).

Rafael Furcal- 2 more years left on his deal. He was a demon in the NLDS and a ghost in the NLCS. He already used up his Holloween costumes.

Chin Lung Hu- His value has dropped, he may still be shopped.

Orlando Hudson- Solid contributor, got him an All Star selection. Faded in the second half and will be just as expensive as a power hitting second basemanon the market (Dan Uggla).

James Loney- I think the Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzales rumors are a pipe dream, so hopefully Loney learns how to hit for power over the offseason.

Mark Loretta- He had some clutch hits, but as a starter hit closer to the Mendoza line. I see retirement in his future.

Doug MKZ- Forgot how to slide and lost the season, might get invited to ST to earn a roster spot.

Jim Thome- I guess we didn't get our Matt Stairs. Back to Chicago Jim.

Outfielders

Andre Ethier- Will get a hefty raise in arbitration. Clutch and solid. An awful May kept him from being an All Star and legit MVP candidate.

Matt Kemp- Will get a hefty raise in arbitration. Needs to lay off bad pitches.

Xavier Paul- Injury plagued 2009, will probably be the 4th outfielder if we find a taker for Juan Pierre.

Juan Pierre- I'm glad he is no longer scorned, however if Manny opts out and he becomes a starter again, you know he will be a target again. He hassome value and only two years left on that awful deal, hopefully we can find a taker.

Manny Ramirez- You never know with Manny, the smart move is to pick up the option, but Manny hardly ever goes for the smart move. If he picks up theoption, here is hoping we get 2008 Manny and not 2009 Manny. It was a lost season for him.

Outlook:

The Outfield will be in tact, since I doubt Manny is going to opt out of what is looking like a very generous deal. At this point, they need to re-signRandy Wolf and pick up Garland's option. That would leave us with a tentative rotation of Wolf, Kershaw, Bills, Kuroda and Garland. There is still a needto get a legit Ace. Billingsley looked like he was heading there, until he fell apart. Kershaw is too inconsistent to be considered one. With Wolf, Kurodaand Garland you already know what you got. Two middle of the rotation guys and a back end of the rotation guy.

The infield will have a gaping hole at second base. They will dumb to not pursue Dan Uggla. I know his glove sucks, but getting him will be easier thangetting a power bat at first base. The infield is set with Furcal and Blake still having two years apiece and Loney still under team control.

There aren't too many holes to fill. The holes that need to be filled are huge,

 

[Los Angeles]

Originally Posted by ooIRON MANoo

Jonathan Broxton-

Three words "Set Up Man".

So bittersweet, I've been saying this for over 2 years.

I'm glad it finally took another piss poor performance when it counted for people to see what I see when I don't have my blinders on.

To question me and say you can't tell a player is soft because you don't know him? The hell outta here.

Broxton is the softest big man on the face of this earth, to see him curl up in a little ball and help his team tie up the series at 2-2 but yet fail again insome strange deja vu moment ... ah priceless.

I'd go on, but I agree with you on Dan Uggla - we'd be fools not to chase that bat.

Dude said coming into camp looking like Turtle.

When you look at the yearly decline of Russ's stats ... I don't see any way he can bounce back be anything as productive when he was roided an All-Star.

Let me add, what Torre has done to our kids arms is freaking disgusting.

Cory Wade was our dude in 2008 and he's been nowhere to be found.

Troncoso was our dude in 2009 and his arm just gave out at the end of the season.

Bellisario is next.

 

[in yo nostril]

yeah russ is probably done too. im not sure what his deal is but no chick is going to make you go from all star to AAA catcher.

i hate mccourt more than anyone but this dude needs to spend money if he wants to win. no more cheap %** %@$!. stop avoiding trades because you know you aregoing to have to dish out a big contract. stop worrying about plastering more ads on the stadium and use some of that 15 dollar parking and 10 dollar beermoney to buy players. its going to be an interesting offseason

 

[mr jordan04]

Ronald Belisario- They found this dude in the trash bin, and he has been very solid. He deserves a raise, but that will lead to more crazy nights at Wockano in Pasadena

.
is that the story?

Blake DeWitt- They are either going to give DeWitt the second base job or they are going to include him in a package to get one (Dan Uggla).
do you know something we dont know?

Manny Ramirez- You never know with Manny, the smart move is to pick up the option, but Manny hardly ever goes for the smart move. If he picks up the option, here is hoping we get 2008 Manny and not 2009 Manny. It was a lost season for him.
if he does come back, its a contract year

When you look at the yearly decline of Russ's stats ... I don't see any way he can bounce back be anything as productive when he was roided an All-Star.

 

[Los Angeles]

I posted this in the other thread, but you guys need to watch this.



pay attention to the road homies.

 

[cincoseisdos]

do you know something we dont know?

it's been discussed all over quite a few times

 

[in yo nostril]

Originally Posted by Mr Jordan04

Manny Ramirez- You never know with Manny, the smart move is to pick up the option, but Manny hardly ever goes for the smart move. If he picks up the option, here is hoping we get 2008 Manny and not 2009 Manny. It was a lost season for him.

if he does come back, its a contract year

he better get back on the juice or there wont be any more contracts

 

[cincoseisdos]

I've stated this countless times.

LEt's take a road trip to TJ and reup for his and our sake.

 

[mr jordan04]

Originally Posted by In Yo Nostril

Originally Posted by Mr Jordan04

Manny Ramirez- You never know with Manny, the smart move is to pick up the option, but Manny hardly ever goes for the smart move. If he picks up the option, here is hoping we get 2008 Manny and not 2009 Manny. It was a lost season for him.

if he does come back, its a contract year

he better get back on the juice or there wont be any more contracts

he was trying to get his wife pregnant, it wasnt roids

 

[ooiron manoo]

Originally Posted by Mr Jordan04

Ronald Belisario- They found this dude in the trash bin, and he has been very solid. He deserves a raise, but that will lead to more crazy nights at Wockano in Pasadena

.

is that the story?

Blake DeWitt- They are either going to give DeWitt the second base job or they are going to include him in a package to get one (Dan Uggla).
do you know something we dont know?

Manny Ramirez- You never know with Manny, the smart move is to pick up the option, but Manny hardly ever goes for the smart move. If he picks up the option, here is hoping we get 2008 Manny and not 2009 Manny. It was a lost season for him.
if he does come back, its a contract year

When you look at the yearly decline of Russ's stats ... I don't see any way he can bounce back be anything as productive when he was roided an All-Star.

Naw, that fool is always at Wockano in Pasadena getting hammered

.

In terms of Uggla, there was an LA Times article on how he would be available and is a perfect fit for the Dodgers.

He is arbitration eligible (last year before free agency) and will probably earn what we paid Orlando Hudson last season. I love the O-Dog, but he is goingto ask for too much. I will take Uggla's stone hands in order to get his bat.

 

[darthska]

Damn, sorry to all you Dodger fans.

Beginning the playoffs, I really, really REALLY wanted a Freeway Series.

About that...

 

[in yo nostril]

there were a bunch of hot chicks at wokcano the last time i went, cant blame the guy

 

[cincoseisdos]

Agreed Iron Man.

That and he ruffled the marlins fins with his comments about Hanley.

I'm watching the post game conferences.

Torre looks completely shocked.

 

[bigmike23]

Bigmike23 wrote:

---

someone plzzzzzzzzzz try to defend martin still? %*+% all the broxton hate, TRY AND DEFEND THAT BUM

yall still wouldn't trade him for starting pitching?

LOL

 

[in yo nostril]

broxton should be traded or placed on waivers or something. really, he shouldnt ever pitch here again. its just better that way.